Motion event recognition and video synchronization system and method

ABSTRACT

Enables recognition of events within motion data obtained from portable wireless motion capture elements and video synchronization of the events with video as the events occur or at a later time, based on location and/or time of the event or both. May use integrated camera or external cameras with respect to mobile device to automatically generate generally smaller event videos of the event on the mobile device or server. Also enables analysis or comparison of movement associated with the same user, other user, historical user or group of users. Provides low memory and power utilization and greatly reduces storage for video data that corresponds to events such as a shot, move or swing of a player, a concussion of a player, or other medical related events or events, such as the first steps of a child, or falling events.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 8,702,516,filed 10 Jun. 2013, which is a continuation in part of U.S. Utilitypatent application Ser. No. 13/679,879 filed 16 Nov. 2012, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.13/298,158 filed 16 Nov. 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/267,784 filed 6 Oct. 2011, whichis a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.13/219,525 filed 26 Aug. 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/191,309 filed 26 Jul. 2011, whichis a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.13/048,850 filed 15 Mar. 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Utility patent application Ser. No. 12/901,806 filed 11 Oct. 2010, whichis a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.12/868,882 filed 26 Aug. 2010, the specifications of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

One or more embodiments pertain to the field of motion capture dataanalysis and displaying information based on events recognized withinthe motion capture data or within motion analysis data associated with auser, or piece of equipment and/or based on previous motion analysisdata from the user or other user(s) and/or piece of equipment. Moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, one or more embodimentsenable a motion event recognition and video synchronization system andmethod that enables recognition of events within motion data includingbut not limited to a shot, move or swing of a player, a concussion of aplayer, boxer, rider or driver, or a heat stroke, hypothermia, seizure,asthma attack, epileptic attack or any other sporting or physical motionrelated event including walking and falling. Motion events may becorrelated and/or otherwise synchronized with image(s) or video, as theevents happen or at a later time based on location and/or time of theevent or both, for example on the mobile device or on a remote server,and as captured from internal/external camera(s) or nanny cam, forexample to enable saving video of the event, such as the first steps ofa child, violent shaking events, sporting, military or other motionevents including concussions, or falling events associated with anelderly person and for example discarding non-event related video data,to greatly reduce storage requirements for event videos.

2. Description of the Related Art

Existing motion capture systems process and potentially store enormousamounts of data with respect to the actual events of interest. Forexample, known systems capture accelerometer data from sensors coupledto a user or piece of equipment and analyze or monitor movement. Inthese scenarios, thousands or millions of motion capture samples areassociated with the user at rest or not moving in a manner that isrelated to a particular event that the existing systems are attemptingto analyze. For example, if monitoring a football player, a large amountof motion data is not related to a concussion event, for a baby, a largeamount of motion data is not related in general to a shaking event ornon-motion event such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), for agolfer, a large amount of motion data captured by a sensor mounted onthe player's golf club is of low acceleration value, e.g., associatedwith the player standing or waiting for a play or otherwise not movingor accelerating in a manner of interest. Hence, capturing, transferringand storing non-event related data increases requirements for power,bandwidth and memory.

In addition, video capture of a user performing some type of motion mayinclude even larger amounts of data, much of which has nothing to dowith an actual event, such as a swing of a baseball bat or home run.There are no known systems that automatically trim video, e.g., saveevent related video and discard non-event related video, to generatesmaller video segments that correspond to the events that occur in thevideo and for example as detected through analysis of the motion capturedata.

Some systems that are related to monitoring impacts are focused onlinear acceleration related impacts. These systems are unable to monitorrotational accelerations or velocities and are therefore unable todetect certain types of events that may produce concussions. Inaddition, many of these types of systems do not produce event related,connectionless messages for low power and longevity considerations.Hence, these systems are limited in their use based on their lack ofrobust characteristics.

Known systems also do not contemplate data mining of events withinmotion data to form a representation of a particular movement, forexample a swing of an average player or average professional playerlevel, or any player level based on a function of events recognizedwithin previously stored motion data. Thus, it is difficult and timeconsuming and requires manual labor to find, trim and designateparticular motion related events for use in virtual reality for example.Hence, current systems do not easily enable a particular user to playagainst a previously stored motion event of the same user or other useralong with a historical player for example. Furthermore, known systemsdo not take into account cumulative impacts, and for example withrespect to data mined information related to concussions, to determineif a series of impacts may lead to impaired brain function over time.

Other types of motion capture systems include video systems that aredirected at analyzing and teaching body mechanics. These systems arebased on video recording of an athlete and analysis of the recordedvideo of an athlete. This technique has various limitations includinginaccurate and inconsistent subjective analysis based on video forexample. Another technique includes motion analysis, for example usingat least two cameras to capture three-dimensional points of movementassociated with an athlete. Known implementations utilize a stationarymulti-camera system that is not portable and thus cannot be utilizedoutside of the environment where the system is installed, for exampleduring an athletic event such as a golf tournament, football game or tomonitor a child or elderly person. In general video based systems do notalso utilize digital motion capture data from sensors on the objectundergoing motion since they are directed at obtaining and analyzingimages having visual markers instead of electronic sensors. These fixedinstallations are extremely expensive as well. Such prior techniques aresummarized in U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,554, filed 26 Jan. 2006, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/647,751filed 26 Jan. 2005, the specifications of which are both herebyincorporated herein by reference. Both disclosures are to the sameinventor of the subject matter of the instant application.

Regardless of the motion capture data obtained, the data is generallyanalyzed on a per user or per swing basis that does not contemplateprocessing on a mobile phone, so that a user would only buy a motioncapture sensor and an “app” for a pre-existing mobile phone. Inaddition, existing solutions do not contemplate mobile use, analysis andmessaging and/or comparison to or use of previously stored motioncapture data from the user or other users or data mining of large datasets of motion capture data, for example to obtain or create motioncapture data associated with a group of users, for example professionalgolfers, tennis players, baseball players or players of any other sportto provide events associated with a “professional level” average orexceptional virtual reality opponent. To summarize, motion capture datais generally used for immediate monitoring or sports performancefeedback and generally has had limited and/or primitive use in otherfields.

Known motion capture systems generally utilize several passive or activemarkers or several sensors. There are no known systems that utilize aslittle as one visual marker or sensor and an app that for exampleexecutes on a mobile device that a user already owns, to analyze anddisplay motion capture data associated with a user and/or piece ofequipment. The data is generally analyzed in a laboratory on a per useror per swing basis and is not used for any other purpose besides motionanalysis or representation of motion of that particular user and isgenerally not subjected to data mining.

There are no known systems that allow for motion capture elements suchas wireless sensors to seamlessly integrate or otherwise couple with auser or shoes, gloves, shirts, pants, belts, or other equipment, such asa baseball bat, tennis racquet, golf club, mouth piece for a boxer,football or soccer player, or protective mouthpiece utilized in anyother contact sport for local analysis or later analysis in such a smallformat that the user is not aware that the sensors are located in or onthese items. There are no known systems that provide seamless mounts,for example in the weight port of a golf club or at the end shaft nearthe handle so as to provide a wireless golf club, configured to capturemotion data. Data derived from existing sensors is not saved in adatabase for a large number of events and is not used relative toanything but the performance at which the motion capture data wasacquired.

In addition, for sports that utilize a piece of equipment and a ball,there are no known portable systems that allow the user to obtainimmediate visual feedback regarding ball flight distance, swing speed,swing efficiency of the piece of equipment or how centered an impact ofthe ball is, i.e., where on the piece of equipment the collision of theball has taken place. These systems do not allow for user's to playgames with the motion capture data acquired from other users, orhistorical players, or from their own previous performances. Knownsystems do not allow for data mining motion capture data from a largenumber of swings to suggest or allow the searching for better or optimalequipment to match a user's motion capture data and do not enableoriginal equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to make business decisions,e.g., improve their products, compare their products to othermanufacturers, up-sell products or contact users that may purchasedifferent or more profitable products.

In addition, there are no known systems that utilize motion capture datamining for equipment fitting and subsequent point-of-sale decisionmaking for instantaneous purchasing of equipment that fits an athlete.Furthermore, no known systems allow for custom order fulfillment such asassemble-to-order (ATO) for custom order fulfillment of sportingequipment, for example equipment that is built to customerspecifications based on motion capture data mining, and shipped to thecustomer to complete the point of sales process, for example during playor virtual reality play.

In addition, there are no known systems that use a mobile device andRFID tags for passive compliance and monitoring applications.

There are no known systems that enable data mining for a large number ofusers related to their motion or motion of associated equipment to findpatterns in the data that allows for business strategies to bedetermined based on heretofore undiscovered patterns related to motion.There are no known systems that enable obtain payment from OEMs, medicalprofessionals, gaming companies or other end users to allow data miningof motion data. For at least the limitations described above there is aneed for a motion event recognition and video synchronization system andmethod.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention enable a motion event recognition and videosynchronization system and method that provides intelligent recognitionof events within motion data including but not limited to motion capturedata obtained from portable wireless motion capture elements such asvisual markers and sensors, radio frequency identification tags andmobile device computer systems, or calculated based on analyzed movementassociated with the same user, or compared against the user or anotherother user, historical user or group of users. Enables low memoryutilization for event data and video data by trimming motion data andvideos to correspond to the detected events. This may be performed onthe mobile device or on a remote server and based on location and/ortime of the event and based on the location and/or time of the video,and may optionally include the orientation of the camera to furtherlimit the videos that may include the motion events. Embodiments enableevent based viewing and low power transmission of events andcommunication with an app executing on a mobile device and/or withexternal cameras to designate windows that define the events. Enablesrecognition of motion events, and designation of events within images orvideos, such as a shot, move or swing of a player, a concussion of aplayer, boxer, rider or driver, or a heat stroke, hypothermia, seizure,asthma attack, epileptic attack or any other sporting or physical motionrelated event including walking and falling. Events may be correlatedwith one or more images or video as captured from internal/externalcamera or cameras or nanny cam, for example to enable saving video ofthe event, such as the first steps of a child, violent shaking events,sporting events including concussions, or falling events associated withan elderly person. Concussion related events and other events may bemonitored for linear acceleration thresholds and/or patterns as well asrotational acceleration and velocity thresholds and/or patterns and/orsaved on an event basis and/or transferred over lightweightconnectionless protocols or any combination thereof.

Embodiments of the invention enable a user to purchase an application or“app” and a motion capture element and immediately utilize the systemwith their existing mobile computer, e.g., mobile phone. Embodiments ofthe invention may display motion information to a monitoring user, oruser associated with the motion capture element or piece of equipment.Embodiments may also display information based on motion analysis dataassociated with a user or piece of equipment based on (via a functionsuch as but not limited to a comparison) previously stored motioncapture data or motion analysis data associated with the user or pieceof equipment or previously stored motion capture data or motion analysisdata associated with at least one other user. This enables sophisticatedmonitoring, compliance, interaction with actual motion capture data orpattern obtained from other user(s), for example to play a virtual gameusing real motion data obtained from the user with responses generatedbased thereon using real motion data capture from the user previously orfrom other users (or equipment). This capability provides for playingagainst historical players, for example a game of virtual tennis, orplaying against an “average” professional sports person, and is unknownin the art until now.

For example, one or more embodiments include at least one motion captureelement configured to couple with a user or piece of equipment or mobiledevice coupled with the user, wherein the at least one motion captureelement includes a memory, a sensor configured to capture anycombination of values associated with an orientation, position,velocity, acceleration (linear and/or rotational) of the at least onemotion capture element, a radio, and a microcontroller coupled with thememory, the sensor and the radio. The microcontroller is configured tocollect data that includes sensor values from the sensor, store the datain the memory, analyze the data and recognize an event within the datato determine event data and transmit the event data associated with theevent via the radio. Embodiments of the system may also include anapplication configured to execute on a mobile device wherein the mobiledevice includes a computer, a wireless communication interfaceconfigured to communicate with the radio to obtain the event dataassociated with the event. The computer is coupled with wirelesscommunication interface wherein the computer executes the application or“app” to configure the computer to receive the event data from thewireless communication interface, analyze the event data to form motionanalysis data, store the event data, or the motion analysis data, orboth the event data and the motion analysis data, and displayinformation comprising the event data, or the motion analysis data, orboth associated with the at least one user on a display.

One or more embodiments include at least one motion capture sensor thatis configured to be placed near the user's head wherein themicrocontroller is further configured to calculate of a location ofimpact on the user's head. Embodiments of the at least one motioncapture sensor may be configured to be coupled on a hat or cap, within aprotective mouthpiece, using any type of mount, enclosure or couplingmechanism. One or more embodiments of the at least one motion capturesensor may be configured to be coupled with a helmet on the user's headand wherein the calculation of the location of impact on the user's headis based on the physical geometry of the user's head and/or helmet.Embodiments may include a temperature sensor coupled with the at leastone motion capture sensor or with the microcontroller for example.

Embodiments of the invention may also utilize an isolator configured tosurround the at least one motion capture element to approximate physicalacceleration dampening of cerebrospinal fluid around the user's brain tominimize translation of linear acceleration and rotational accelerationof the event data to obtain an observed linear acceleration and anobserved rotational acceleration of the user's brain. Thus, embodimentsmay eliminate processing to translate forces or acceleration values orany other values from the helmet based acceleration to the observedbrain acceleration values. Therefore, embodiments utilize less power andstorage to provide event specific data, which in turn minimizes theamount of data transfer, which yields lower transmission powerutilization and even lower total power utilization. Different isolatorsmay be utilized on a football/hockey/lacrosse player's helmet based onthe type of padding inherent in the helmet. Other embodiments utilizedin sports where helmets are not worn, or occasionally worn may alsoutilize at least one motion capture sensor on a cap or hat, for exampleon a baseball player's hat, along with at least one sensor mounted on abatting helmet. Headband mounts may also be utilized in sports where acap is not utilized, such as soccer to also determine concussions. Inone or more embodiments, the isolator utilized on a helmet may remain inthe enclosure attached to the helmet and the sensor may be removed andplaced on another piece of equipment that does not make use of anisolator that matches the dampening of a user's brain fluids.Embodiments may automatically detect a type of motion and determine thetype of equipment that the motion capture sensor is currently attachedto based on characteristic motion patterns associated with certain typesof equipment, i.e., surfboard versus baseball bat.

Embodiments of the invention may be configured to obtain/calculate alinear acceleration value or a rotational acceleration value or both.This enables rotational events to be monitored for concussions as wellas linear accelerations. Other events may make use of the linear and/orrotational acceleration and/or velocity, for example as compared againstpatterns or templates to not only switch sensor personalities during anevent to alter the capture characteristics dynamically, but also tocharacterize the type of equipment currently being utilized with thecurrent motion capture sensor. This enables a single motion captureelement purchase by a user to instrument multiple pieces of equipment orclothing by enabling the sensor to automatically determine what type ofequipment or piece of clothing the sensor is coupled to based on themotion captured by the sensor when compared against characteristicpatterns or templates of motion.

Embodiments of the invention may transmit the event data associated withthe event using a connectionless broadcast message. In one or moreembodiments, depending on the wireless communication employed, broadcastmessages may include payloads with a limited amount of data that may beutilized to avoid handshaking and overhead of a connection basedprotocol. In other embodiments connectionless or connection basedprotocols may be utilized in any combination.

In one or more embodiments, the computer may access previously storedevent data or motion analysis data associated with the user or piece ofequipment, for example to determine the number of concussions or fallsor other swings, or any other motion event. Embodiments may also presentevent data associated with the at least one user on a display based onthe event data or motion analysis data associated with the user or pieceof equipment and the previously stored event data or motion analysisdata associated with the user or piece of equipment or with at least oneother user or other piece of equipment. This enables comparison ofmotion events, in number or quantitative value, e.g., the maximumrotational acceleration observed by the user or other users in aparticular game or historically. In addition, patterns or templates thatdefine characteristic motion of particular pieces of equipment fortypical events may be dynamically updated, for example on a centralserver or locally, and dynamically updated in motion capture sensors viathe wireless interface in one or more embodiments. This enables sensorsto improve over time.

Embodiments of the invention may transmit the information to a displayon a visual display coupled with the computer or a remote computer, forexample over broadcast television or the Internet for example.Embodiments of the display may also be configured to accept sub-eventtime locations to provide discrete scrolling along the timeline of thewhole event. For example a golf swing may include sub-events such as anaddress, swing back, swing forward, strike, follow through. The systemmay display time locations for the sub-events and accept user input nearthe location to assert that the video should start or stop at that pointin time, or scroll to or back to that point in time for ease of viewingsub-events for example.

Embodiments of the invention may also include an identifier coupled withthe at least one motion capture sensor or the user or the piece ofequipment. In one or more embodiments, the identifier may include a teamand jersey number or student identifier number or license number or anyother identifier that enables relatively unique identification of aparticular event from a particular user or piece of equipment. Thisenables team sports or locations with multiple players or users to beidentified with respect to the app that is configured to receive dataassociated with a particular player or user. One or more embodimentsreceive the identifier, for example a passive RFID identifier or MACaddress or other serial number associated with the player or user andassociate the identifier with the event data and motion analysis data.

One or more embodiments of the at least one motion capture element mayfurther include a light emitting element configured to output light ifthe event occurs. This may be utilized to display a potential, mild orsevere level of concussion on the outer portion of the helmet withoutany required communication to any external device for example. Differentcolors or flashing intervals may also be utilized to relay informationrelated to the event. Alternatively, or in combination, the at least onemotion capture element may further include an audio output elementconfigured to output sound if the event occurs or if the at least onemotion capture sensor is out of range of the computer or wherein thecomputer is configured to display and alert if the at least one motioncapture sensor is out of range of the computer, or any combinationthereof. Embodiments of the sensor may also utilize an LCD that outputsa coded analysis of the current event, for example in a Quick Response(QR) code or bar code for example so that a referee may obtain asnapshot of the analysis code on a mobile device locally, and so thatthe event is not viewed in a readable form on the sensor or wirelesslytransmitted and intercepted by anyone else.

In one or more embodiments, the at least one motion capture elementfurther includes a location determination element coupled with themicrocontroller. This may include a GPS (Global Positioning System)device for example. Alternatively, or in combination, the computer maytriangulate the location in concert with another computer, or obtain thelocation from any other triangulation type of receiver, or calculate thelocation based on images captured via a camera coupled with the computerand known to be oriented in a particular direction, wherein the computercalculates an offset from the mobile device based on the direction andsize of objects within the image for example.

In one or more embodiments, the computer is further configured torequest at least one image or video that contains the event from atleast one camera proximal to the event. This may include a broadcastmessage requesting video from a particular proximal camera or a camerathat is pointing in the direction of the event. In one or moreembodiments, the computer is further configured to broadcast a requestfor camera locations proximal to the event or oriented to view theevent, and optionally display the available cameras, or videos therefromfor the time duration around the event of interest. In one or moreembodiments, the computer is further configured to display a list of oneor more times at which the event has occurred, which enables the userobtain the desired event video via the computer, and/or to independentlyrequest the video from a third party with the desired event times.

In one or more embodiments, the at least one motion capture sensor iscoupled with the mobile device and for example uses an internal motionsensor within or coupled with the mobile device. This enables motioncapture and event recognition with minimal and ubiquitous hardware,e.g., using a mobile device with a built-in accelerometer. In one ormore embodiments, a first mobile device may be coupled with a userrecording motion data, while a second mobile device is utilized torecord a video of the motion. In one or more embodiments, the userundergoing motion may gesture, e.g., tap N times on the mobile device toindicate that the second user's mobile device should start recordingvideo or stop recording video. Any other gesture may be utilized tocommunicate event related or motion related indications between mobiledevices.

Embodiments of the at least one motion capture sensor may include atemperature sensor, or the microcontroller may otherwise be coupled witha temperature sensor. In these embodiments, the microcontroller isconfigured to transmit a temperature obtained from the temperaturesensor as a temperature event, for example as a potential indication ofheat stroke or hypothermia.

Thus embodiments of the invention may recognize any type of motionevent, including events related to motion associated with the at leastone motion capture sensor coupled with any combination of the user, orthe piece of equipment or the mobile device or motion that is indicativeof standing, walking, falling, a heat stroke, seizure, violent shaking,a concussion, a collision, abnormal gait, abnormal or non-existentbreathing or any combination thereof or any other type of event having aduration of time during with motion occurs.

Embodiments of the invention may utilize data mining on the motioncapture data to obtain patterns for users, equipment, or use the motioncapture data or events of a given user or other user in particularembodiments of the invention. Data mining relates to discovering newpatterns in large databases wherein the patterns are previously unknown.Many methods may be applied to the data to discover new patternsincluding statistical analysis, neural networks and artificialintelligence for example. Due to the large amount of data, automateddata mining may be performed by one or more computers to find unknownpatterns in the data. Unknown patterns may include groups of relateddata, anomalies in the data, dependencies between elements of the data,classifications and functions that model the data with minimal error orany other type of unknown pattern. Displays of data mining results mayinclude displays that summarize newly discovered patterns in a way thatis easier for a user to understand than large amounts of pure raw data.One of the results of the data mining process is improved marketresearch reports, product improvement, lead generation and targetedsales. Generally, any type of data that will be subjected to data miningmust be cleansed, data mined and the results of which are generallyvalidated. Businesses may increase profits using data mining. Examplesof benefits of embodiments of the invention include customerrelationship management to highly target individuals based on patternsdiscovered in the data. In addition, market basket analysis data miningenables identifying products that are purchased or owned by the sameindividuals and which can be utilized to offer products to users thatown one product but who do not own another product that is typicallyowned by other users.

Other areas of data mining include analyzing large sets of motion datafrom different users to suggest exercises to improve performance basedon performance data from other users. For example if one user has lessrotation of the hips during a swing versus the average user, thenexercises to improve flexibility or strength may be suggested by thesystem. In a golf course embodiment, golf course planners may determineover a large amount of users on a golf course which holes should beadjusted in length or difficulty to obtain more discrete values for theaverage number of shots per hole, or for determining the amount of timebetween golfers, for example at a certain time of day or for golfers ofa certain age. In addition, sports and medical applications of datamining include determining morphological changes in user performanceover time, for example versus diet or exercise changes to determine whatimproves performance the most, or for example what times of the day,temperatures, or other conditions produce swing events that result inthe furthest drive or lowest score. Use of motion capture data for aparticular user or with respect to other users enables healthcarecompliance, for example to ensure a person with diabetes moves a certainamount during the day, and morphological analysis to determine how auser's motion or range of motion has changed over time. Games may beplayed with motion capture data that enables virtual reality playagainst historical greats or other users. For example, a person may playagainst a previous performance of the same person or against the motioncapture data of a friend. This allows users to play a game in a historicstadium or venue in a virtual reality environment, but with motioncapture data acquired from the user or other users previously forexample. Military planners may utilize the motion capture data todetermine which soldiers are most fit and therefore eligible for specialoperations, or which ones should retire, or by coaches to determine whena player should rest based on the concussion events and severity thereofsustained by a player for example and potentially based on a mined timeperiod where other users have increased performance after a concussionrelated event.

Embodiments of the system perform motion capture and/or display with anapplication for example that executes on mobile device that may includea visual display and an optional camera and which is capable ofobtaining data from at least one motion capture element such as a visualmarker and/or a wireless sensor. The system can also integrate withstandalone cameras, or cameras on multiple mobile devices. The systemalso enables the user to analyze and display the motion capture data ina variety of ways that provide immediate easy to understand graphicalinformation associated with the motion capture data. Motion captureelements utilized in the system intelligently store data for examplerelated to events associated with striking a ball, making a ski turn,jumping, etc., and eliminate false events, and greatly improve memoryusage and minimize storage requirements. In addition, the data may bestored for example for more than one event associated with the sportingequipment, for example multiple bat swings or for an entire round ofgolf or more if necessary at least until the data is downloaded to amobile device or to the Internet. Data compression of captured data mayalso be utilized to store more motion capture data in a given amount ofmemory. Motion capture elements utilized in the system may also beconfigured to intelligently power down portions of their circuitry tosave power, for example power down transceivers until motion is detectedof a certain type. Embodiments of the invention may also utilizeflexible battery connectors to couple two or more batteries in parallelto increase the time the system may be utilized before replacing thebatteries. Motion capture data is generally stored in memory such as alocal database or in a network accessible database, any of which enablesdata mining described above. Any other type of data mining may beperformed using embodiments of the invention, including searching fortemporal changes of data related to one or more users and or simplysearching for data related to a particular user or piece of equipment.

Other embodiments may display information such as music selections ormusic playlists to be played based on the motion related data. This forexample enables a performance to be compared to another user'sperformance and select the type of music the other user plays, or tocompare the performance relative to a threshold that determines whattype of music selection to suggest or display.

Embodiments of the invention directed sports for example enable RFID orpassive RFID tags to be placed on items that a user moves whereinembodiments of the system keep track of the motion. For example, byplacing passive RFID tags on a particular helmet or cap, or protectivemouthpiece for boxing, football, soccer or other contact sport,particular dumbbells at a gym, and by wearing motion capture elementssuch as gloves and with a pre-existing mobile device for example anIPHONE®, embodiments of the invention provide automatic safetycompliance or fitness and/or healthcare compliance. This is achieved bykeeping track of the motion, and via RIFD or passive RFID, the weightthat the user is lifting. Embodiments of the invention may thus add thenumber of repetitions multiplied by the amount of weight indicated byeach RFID tag to calculate the number of calories burned by the user. Inanother example, an RFID tag coupled with a stationary bike, or whereinthe stationary bike can mimic the identifier and/or communicatewirelessly to provide performance data and wherein the mobile computerincludes an RFID reader, the number of rotations of the user's legs maybe counted. Any other use of RFID or passive RFID is in keeping with thespirit of the invention. This enables doctors to remotely determinewhether a user has complied with their medical recommendations, orexceeded linear or rotational acceleration indicative of a concussionfor example. Embodiments may thus be utilized by users to ensurecompliance and by doctors to lower their malpractice insurance ratessince they are ensuring that their patients are complying with theirrecommendations, albeit remotely. Embodiments of the invention do notrequire RFID tags for medical compliance, but may utilize them.Embodiments of the invention directed at golf also enable golf shots foreach club associated with a golfer to be counted through use of anidentifier such as RFID tags on each club (or optionally via anidentifier associated with motion capture electronics on a golf club orobtained remotely over the radio) and a mobile computer, for example anIPHONE® equipped with an RFID reader that concentrates the processingfor golf shot counting on the mobile computer instead of on each golfclub. Embodiments of the invention may also allow for the measurement oforientation (North/South, and/or two horizontal axes and the verticalaxis) and acceleration using an inertial measurement unit, oraccelerometers and/or magnetometers, and/or gyroscopes. This is notrequired for golf shot counting, although one or more embodiments maydetermine when the golf club has struck a golf ball through vibrationanalysis for example and then query a golfer whether to count a shot ornot. This functionality may be combined with speed or accelerationthreshold or range detection for example to determine whether the golfclub was travelling within an acceptable speed or range, or accelerationor range for the “hit” to count. Wavelets may also be utilized tocompare valid swing signatures to eliminate count shots or eliminatefalse strikes for example. This range may vary between different clubs,for example a driver speed range may be “greater than 30 mph” while aputter speed range may be “less than 20 mph”, any range may be utilizedwith any club as desired, or the speed range may be ignored for example.Alternatively or in combination, the mobile computer may only query thegolfer to count a shot if the golfer is not moving laterally, i.e., in agolf cart or walking, and/or wherein the golfer may have rotated ortaken a shot as determined by a orientation or gyroscope sensor coupledwith the mobile computer. The position of the stroke may be shown on amap on the mobile computer for example. In addition, GPS receivers withwireless radios may be placed within the tee markers and in the cups togive daily updates of distances and helps with reading putts and greensfor example. The golfer may also wear virtual glasses that allow thegolfer to see the golf course map, current location, distance to thehole, number of shots on the current hole, total number of shots and anyother desired metric. If the user moves a certain distance, asdetermined by GPS for example, from the shot without counting the shot,the system may prompt the user on whether to count the shot or not. Thesystem does not require a user to initiate a switch on a club to count ashot and does not require LED's or active or battery powered electronicson each club to count shots. The mobile computer may also acceptgestures from the user to count a shot or not count a shot so that thegolfer does not have to remove any gloves to operate the mobilecomputer. For embodiments that utilize position/orientation sensors, thesystem may only count shots when a club is oriented vertically forexample when an impact is detected. The apparatus may also includeidentifiers that enable a specific apparatus to be identified. Theidentifiers may be a serial number for example. The identifier forexample may originate from an RFID tag on each golf club, or optionallymay include a serial number or other identifier associated with motioncapture elements associated with a golf club. Utilizing this apparatusenables the identification of a specific golfer, specific club and alsoenables motion capture and/or display with a system that includes atelevision and/or mobile device having a visual display and an optionalcamera and capable of obtaining data from at least one motion captureelement such as a visual marker and/or a wireless sensor. The system canalso integrate with standalone cameras, or cameras on multiple mobiledevices. The system also enables the user to analyze and display themotion capture data in a variety of ways that provide immediate and easyto understand graphical information associated with the motion capturedata. The apparatus enables the system to also determine how “centered”an impact is with respect to a ball and a piece of equipment, such as agolf club for example. The system also allows for fitting of equipmentincluding shoes, clubs, etc., and immediate purchasing of the equipmenteven if the equipment requires a custom assemble-to-order request from avendor. Once the motion capture data, videos or images and shot countindications are obtained by the system, they may be stored locally, forexample in a local database or sent over a telephonic or wirelessinterface to a remote database for example. Once in a database, thevarious elements including any data associated with the user, such asage, sex, height, weight, address, income or any other relatedinformation may be utilized in embodiments of the invention and/orsubjected to data mining. One or more embodiments enable users or OEMsfor example to pay for access to the data mining capabilities of thesystem.

For example, embodiments that utilize motion capture elements allow foranalyzing the data obtained from the apparatus and enable thepresentation of unique displays associated with the user, such as 3Doverlays onto images of the body of the user to visually depict thecaptured motion data. In addition, these embodiments may also utilizeactive wireless technology such as BLUETOOTH® Low Energy for a range ofup to 50 meters to communicate with a golfer's mobile computer.Embodiments of the invention also allow for display of queries forcounting a stroke for example as a result of receiving a golf club ID,for example via an RFID reader or alternatively via wirelesscommunication using BLUETOOTH® or IEEE 802.11 for example. Use ofBLUETOOTH® Low Energy chips allows for a club to be in sleep mode for upto 3 years with a standard coin cell battery, thus reducing requiredmaintenance. One or more embodiments of the invention may utilize morethan one radio, of more than one technology for example. This allows fora level of redundancy that increases robustness of the system. Forexample, if one radio no longer functions, e.g., the BLUETOOTH® radiofor example, then the IEEE 802.11 radio may be utilized to transfer dataand warn the golfer that one of the radios is not functioning, whilestill allowing the golfer to record motion data and count shotsassociated with the particular club. For embodiments of the inventionthat utilize a mobile device (or more than one mobile device) withoutcamera(s), sensor data may be utilized to generate displays of thecaptured motion data, while the mobile device may optionally obtainimages from other cameras or other mobile devices with cameras. Forexample, display types that may or may not utilize images of the usermay include ratings, calculated data and time line data. Ratingsassociated with the captured motion can also be displayed to the user inthe form of numerical or graphical data with or without a user image,for example an “efficiency” rating. Other ratings may include linearacceleration and/or rotational acceleration values for the determinationof concussions and other events for example. Calculated data, such as apredicted ball flight path data can be calculated and displayed on themobile device with or without utilizing images of the user's body. Datadepicted on a time line can also be displayed with or without images ofthe user to show the relative peaks of velocity for various parts of theequipment or user's body for example. Images from multiple camerasincluding multiple mobile devices, for example from a crowd of golffans, may be combined into a BULLET TIME® visual effect characterized byslow motion of the golf swing shown from around the golfer at variousangles at normal speed. All analyzed data may be displayed locally, oruploaded to the database along with the motion capture data,images/videos, shot count and location data where it may undergo datamining processes, wherein the system may charge a fee for access to theresults for example.

In one or more embodiments, a user may play a golf course or hit tennisballs, or alternatively simply swing to generate motion capture data forexample and when wearing virtual reality glasses, see an avatar ofanother user, whether virtual or real in an augmented realityenvironment. In other embodiments, the user moves a piece of equipmentassociated with any sport or simply move the user's own body coupledwith motion capture sensors and view a virtual reality environmentdisplayed in virtual reality glasses of the user's movement or movementof a piece of equipment so instrumented. Alternatively or incombination, a virtual reality room or other environment may be utilizedto project the virtual reality avatars and motion data. Hence,embodiments of the system may allow a user on a real golf course to playalong with another user at a different location that is not actuallyhitting balls along with a historical player whose motion data has beenanalyzed or a data mining constructed user based on one or more motioncapture data sequences, and utilized by an embodiment of the system toproject an avatar of the historical player. Each of the three playersmay play in turn, as if they were located in the same place.

Motion capture data and/or events can be displayed in many ways, forexample tweeted, to a social network during or after motion capture. Forexample, if a certain amount of exercise or motion is performed, orcalories performed, or a new sports power factor maximum has beenobtained, the system can automatically tweet the new information to asocial network site so that anyone connected to the Internet may benotified. The data uploaded to the Internet, i.e., a remote database orremote server or memory remote to the system may be viewed, analyzed ordata mined by any computer that may obtain access to the data. Thisallows for remote compliance tweeting and/or compliance and/or originalequipment manufacturers to determine for a given user what equipment forcompliance or sporting equipment for sports related embodiments isworking best and/or what equipment to suggest. Data mining also enablessuggestions for users to improve their compliance and/or the planning ofsports venues, including golf courses based on the data and/or metadataassociated with users, such as age, or any other demographics that maybe entered into the system. Remote storage of data also enables medicalapplications such as morphological analysis, range of motion over time,and diabetes prevention and exercise monitoring and complianceapplications as stated. Other applications also allow for games that usereal motion capture data from other users, or historical players whetheralive or dead after analyzing videos of the historical players forexample. Virtual reality and augmented virtual reality applications mayalso utilize the motion capture data or historical motion data. Militarypersonnel such as commanders and/or doctors may utilize the motionand/or images in determine what type of G-forces a person has undergonefrom an explosion near an Improvised Explosive Device and automaticallyroute the best type of medical aid automatically to the location of themotion capture sensor. One or more embodiments of the system may relaymotion capture data over a G-force or velocity threshold, to theircommanding officer or nearest medical personnel for example via awireless communication link. Alternatively, embodiments of the inventionmay broadcast lightweight connectionless concussion related messages toany mobile devices listening, e.g., a referee's mobile phone to aid inthe assistance of the injured player wherein the lightweight messageincludes an optional team/jersey number and an acceleration relatednumber such as a potential/probable concussion warning or indicator.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, fixed cameras such as at atennis tournament, football game, baseball game, car or motorcycle race,golf tournament or other sporting event can be utilized with a wirelessinterface located near the player/equipment having motion captureelements so as to obtain, analyze and display motion capture data. Inthis embodiment, real-time or near real-time motion data can bedisplayed on the video for augmented video replays. An increase in theentertainment level is thus created by visually displaying how fastequipment is moving during a shot, for example with rings drawn around aplayers hips and shoulders. Embodiments of the invention also allowimages or videos from other players having mobile devices to be utilizedon a mobile device related to another user so that users don't have toswitch mobile phones for example. In one embodiment, a video obtained bya first user for a piece of sporting equipment in motion that is notassociated with the second user having the video camera equipped mobilephone may automatically transfer the video to the first user for displaywith motion capture data associated with the first user. Video andimages may be uploaded into the database and data mined through imageanalysis to determine the types/colors of clothing or shoes for examplethat users are wearing.

Based on the display of data, the user can determine the equipment thatfits the best and immediately purchase the equipment, via the mobiledevice. For example, when deciding between two sets of skis, a user maytry out both pairs that are instrumented with motion capture elementswherein the motion capture data is analyzed to determine which pair ofskis enables more efficient movement. For golf embodiments, whendeciding between two golf clubs, a user can take swings with differentclubs and based on the analysis of the captured motion data andquantitatively determine which club performs better. Custom equipmentmay be ordered through an interface on the mobile device from a vendorthat can assemble-to-order customer built equipment and ship theequipment to the user for example. Shaft lengths for putters for examplethat are a standard length can be custom made for a particular userbased on captured motion data as a user putts with an adjustable lengthshaft for example. Based on data mining of the motion capture data andshot count data and distances for example allows for users havingsimilar swing characteristics to be compared against a current userwherein equipment that delivers longer shots for a given swing velocityfor a user of a particular size and age for example may be suggested orsearched for by the user to improve performance. OEMs may determine thatfor given swing speeds, which make and model of club delivers the bestoverall performance as well. One skilled in the art will recognize thatthis applies to all activities involving motion, not just golf.

Embodiments of the system may utilize a variety of sensor types. In oneor more embodiments of the invention, active sensors may integrate witha system that permits passive or active visual markers to be utilized tocapture motion of particular points on a user's body or equipment. Thismay be performed in a simply two-dimensional manner or in athree-dimensional manner if the mobile device is configured with two ormore cameras, or if multiple cameras or mobile devices are utilized tocapture images such as video and share the images in order to createtriangulated three-dimensional motion data from a set of two-dimensionalimages obtained from each camera. Another embodiment of the inventionmay utilize inertial measurement units (IMU) or any other sensors thatcan produce any combination of orientation, position, velocity and/oracceleration information to the mobile device. The sensors may thusobtain data that may include any combination of one or more valuesassociated with orientation (vertical or North/South or both), position(either via through Global Positioning System, i.e., “GPS” or throughtriangulation), velocity (in all three axes), acceleration (in all threeaxes). All motion capture data obtained from the various sensor typesmay be saved in a database for analysis, monitoring, compliance, gameplaying or other use and/or data mining, regardless of the sensor type.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, a sensor may be utilizedthat includes a passive marker or active marker on an outside surface ofthe sensor, so that the sensor may also be utilized for visual tracking(either two-dimensional or three-dimensional) and for orientation,position, velocity, acceleration or any other physical quantity producedby the sensor. Visual marker embodiments of the motion captureelement(s) may be passive or active, meaning that they may either have avisual portion that is visually trackable or may include a lightemitting element such as a light emitting diode (LED) that allows forimage tracking in low light conditions. This for example may beimplemented with a graphical symbol or colored marker at the end of theshaft near the handle or at the opposing end of the golf club at thehead of the club. Images or videos of the markers may be analyzedlocally or saved in the database and analyzed and then utilized in datamining. In addition, for concussion related embodiments, the visualmarker may emit a light that is indicative of a concussion, for exampleflashing yellow for a moderate concussion and fast flashing red for asever concussion or any other visual or optional audio event indicatorsor both. As previously discussed, an LCD may output a local visualencoded message so that it is not intercepted or otherwise readable byanyone not having a mobile device local and equipped to read the code.This enables sensitive medical messages to only be read by a referee orlocal medical personnel for a concussion or paralysis related event forexample.

Embodiments of the motion capture sensors may be generally mounted on ornear one or more end or opposing ends of sporting equipment, for examplesuch as a golf club and/or anywhere in between (for EI measurements) andmay integrate with other sensors coupled to equipment, such as weapons,medical equipment, wristbands, shoes, pants, shirts, gloves, clubs,bats, racquets, balls, helmets, caps, mouthpieces, etc., and/or may beattached to a user in any possible manner. For example, a rifle todetermine where the rifle was pointing when a recoil was detected by themotion capture sensor. This data may be transmitted to a central server,for example using a mobile computer such as a mobile phone or otherdevice and analyzed for war games practice for example. In addition, oneor more embodiments of the sensor can fit into a weight port of a golfclub, and/or in the handle end of the golf club. Other embodiments mayfit into the handle of, or end of, a tennis racquet or baseball bat forexample. Embodiments that are related to safety or health monitoring maybe coupled with a cap, helmet, and/or mouthpiece or in any other type ofenclosure. One or more embodiments of the invention may also operatewith balls that have integrated sensors as well. One or more embodimentsof the mobile device may include a small mountable computer such as anIPOD® SHUFFLE® or IPOD® NANO® that may or may not have integrateddisplays, and which are small enough to mount on a shaft of a piece ofsporting equipment and not affect a user's swing. Alternatively, thesystem may calculate the virtual flight path of a ball that has come incontact with equipment moved by a player. For example with a baseballbat or tennis racquet or golf club having a sensor integrated into aweight port of other portion of the end of the club striking the golfball and having a second sensor located in the tip of the handle of thegolf club, or in one or more gloves worn by the player, an angle ofimpact can be calculated for the club. By knowing the loft of the faceof the club, an angle of flight may be calculated for the golf ball. Inaddition, by sampling the sensor at the end of the club at a high enoughspeed to determine oscillations indicative of where on the face of theclub the golf ball was struck, a quality of impact may be determined.These types of measurements and the analysis thereof help an athleteimprove, and for fitting purposes, allow an athlete to immediatelypurchase equipment that fits correctly. Centering data may be uploadedto the database and data mined for patterns related to the bats,racquets or clubs with the best centering on average, or the lowesttorsion values for example on a manufacturer basis for productimprovement. Any other unknown patterns in the data that are discoveredmay also be presented or suggested to users or search on by users, orpaid for, for example by manufacturers or users.

One or more embodiments of the sensor may contain charging features suchas mechanical eccentric weight, as utilized in some watches known as“automatic” or “self-winding” watches, optionally including a smallgenerator, or inductive charging coils for indirect electromechanicalcharging of the sensor power supply. Other embodiments may utilize plugsfor direct charging of the sensor power supply or electromechanical ormicroelectromechanical (MEMS) based charging elements. Any other type ofpower micro-harvesting technologies may be utilized in one or moreembodiments of the invention. One or more embodiments of the sensor mayutilize power saving features including gestures that power the sensoron or off. Such gestures may include motion, physical switches, contactwith the sensor, wireless commands to the sensor, for example from amobile device that is associated with the particular sensors. Otherelements that may couple with the sensor includes a battery, low powermicrocontroller, antenna and radio, heat sync, recharger and overchargesensor for example. In addition, embodiments of the invention allow forpower down of some or all of the components of the system until anelectronic signal from accelerometers or a mechanical switch determinesthat the club has moved for example.

One or more embodiments of the invention enable Elasticity Inertia or EImeasurement of sporting equipment and even body parts for example.Placement of embodiments of the sensor along the shaft of a golf club,tennis racquet, baseball bat, hockey stick, shoe, human arm or any otheritem that is not perfectly stiff enables measurement of the amount offlex at points where sensors are located or between sensors. The angulardifferences in the each sensor over time allow for not only calculationof a flex profile, but also a flex profile that is dependent on time orforce. For example, known EI machines use static weights between tosupport points to determine an EI profile. These machines thereforecannot detect whether the EI profile is dependent upon the force appliedor is dependent on the time at which the force is applied, for exampleEI profiles may be non-linear with respect to force or time. Examplematerials that are known to have different physical properties withrespect to time include Maxwell materials and non-Newtonian fluids.

A user may also view the captured motion data in a graphical form on thedisplay of the mobile device or for example on a set of glasses thatcontains a video display. The captured motion data obtained fromembodiments of the motion capture element may also be utilized toaugment a virtual reality display of user in a virtual environment.Virtual reality or augmented reality views of patterns that are found inthe database via data mining are also in keeping with the spirit of theinvention. User's may also see augmented information such as an aimassist or aim guide that shows for example where a shot should beattempted to be placed for example based on existing wind conditions, orto account for hazards, e.g., trees that are in the way of a desireddestination for a ball, i.e., the golf hole for example.

One or more embodiments of the invention include a motion eventrecognition and video synchronization system that includes at least onemotion capture element configured to couple with a user or piece ofequipment or mobile device coupled with the user. The at least onemotion capture element may include a memory, a sensor configured tocapture any combination of values associated with an orientation,position, velocity and acceleration of the at least one motion captureelement, a radio, a microcontroller coupled with the memory, the sensorand the radio. The microcontroller may be configured to collect datathat includes sensor values from the sensor, store the data in thememory, analyze the data and recognize an event within the data todetermine event data, transmit the event data associated with the eventvia the radio. The system may also include a mobile device that includesa computer, a wireless communication interface configured to communicatewith the radio to obtain the event data associated with the event,wherein the computer is coupled with wireless communication interface,wherein the computer is configured to receive the event data from thewireless communication interface. The computer may also analyze theevent data to form motion analysis data, store the event data, or themotion analysis data, or both the event data and the motion analysisdata, obtain an event start time and an event stop time from the event,request image data from camera that includes a video captured at leastduring a timespan from the event start time to the event stop time anddisplay an event video on a display that includes both the event data,the motion analysis data or any combination thereof that occurs duringthe timespan from the event start time to the event stop time and thevideo captured during the timespan from the event start time to theevent stop time.

Embodiments may synchronize clocks in the system using any type ofsynchronization methodology and in one or more embodiments the computeron the mobile device is further configured to determine a clockdifference between the motion capture element and the mobile device andsynchronize the motion analysis data with the video. For example, one ormore embodiments of the invention provides procedures for multiplerecording devices to synchronize information about the time, location,or orientation of each device, so that data recorded about events fromdifferent devices can be combined. Such recording devices may beembedded sensors, mobile phones with cameras or microphones, or moregenerally any devices that can record data relevant to an activity ofinterest. In one or more embodiments, this synchronization isaccomplished by exchanging information between devices so that thedevices can agree on a common measurement for time, location, ororientation. For example, a mobile phone and an embedded sensor mayexchange messages with the current timestamps of their internal clocks;these messages allow a negotiation to occur wherein the two devicesagree on a common time. Such messages may be exchanged periodically asneeded to account for clock drift or motion of the devices after aprevious synchronization. In other embodiments, multiple recordingdevices may use a common server or set of servers to obtain standardizedmeasures of time, location, or orientation. For example, devices may usea GPS system to obtain absolute location information for each device.GPS systems may also be used to obtain standardized time. NTP (NetworkTime Protocol) servers may also be used as standardized time servers.Using servers allows devices to agree on common measurements withoutnecessarily being configured at all times to communicate with oneanother.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, some of the recordingdevices are configured to detect the occurrence of various events ofinterest. Some such events may occur at specific moments in time; othersmay occur over a time interval, wherein the detection includes detectionof the start of an event and of the end of an event. These devices areconfigured to record any combination of the time, location, ororientation of the recording device along with the event data, using thesynchronized measurement bases for time, location, and orientationdescribed above.

Embodiments of the computer on the mobile device may be furtherconfigured to discard at least a portion of the video outside of theevent start time to the event stop. For example, in one or moreembodiments of the invention, some of the recording devices capture datacontinuously to memory while awaiting the detection of an event. Toconserve memory, some devices may be configured to store data to a morepermanent local storage medium, or to a server, only when this data isproximate in time to a detected event. For example, in the absence of anevent detection, newly recorded data may ultimately overwrite previouslyrecorded data in memory. A circular buffer may be used in someembodiments as a typical implementation of such an overwriting scheme.When an event detection occurs, the recording device may store someconfigured amount of data prior to the start of the event, and someconfigured amount of data after the end of the event, in addition tostoring the data captured during the event itself. Any pre or post timeinterval is considered part of the event start time and event stop timeso that context of the event is shown in the video for example.

Embodiments of the system may further comprise a server computer remoteto the mobile device and wherein the server computer is configured todiscard at least a portion of the video outside of the event start timeto the event stop and return the video captured during the timespan fromthe event start time to the event stop time to the computer in themobile device.

Embodiments of the at least one motion capture element may be configuredto transmit the event to at least one other motion capture sensor or atleast one other mobile device or any combination thereof, and whereinthe at least one other motion capture sensor or the at least one othermobile device or any combination thereof is configured to save dataassociated with said event. For example, in embodiments with multiplerecording devices operating simultaneously, one such device may detectan event and send a message to other recording devices that such anevent detection has occurred. This message can include the timestamp ofthe start and/or stop of the event, using the synchronized time basisfor the clocks of the various devices. The receiving devices, e.g.,other motion capture sensors and/or cameras may use the event detectionmessage to store data associated with the event to nonvolatile storageor to a server. The devices may be configured to store some amount ofdata prior to the start of the event and some amount of data after theend of the event, in addition to the data directly associated with theevent. In this way all devices can record data simultaneously, but usean event trigger from only one of the devices to initiate saving ofdistributed event data from multiple sources.

Embodiments of the computer may be further configured to save the videofrom the event start time to the event stop time with the motionanalysis data that occurs from the event start time to the event stoptime or a remote server may be utilized to save the video. In one ormore embodiments of the invention, some of the recording devices may notbe in direct communication with each other throughout the time period inwhich events may occur. In these situations, devices can be configuredto save complete records of all of the data they have recorded topermanent storage or to a server. Saving of only data associated withevents may not be possible in these situations because some devices maynot be able to receive event trigger messages. In these situations,saved data can be processed after the fact to extract only the relevantportions associated with one or more detected events. For example,multiple mobile devices might record video of a player or performer, andupload this video continuously to a server for storage. Separately theplayer or performer may be equipped with an embedded sensor that is ableto detect events such as particular motions or actions. Embedded sensordata may be uploaded to the same server either continuously or at alater time. Since all data, including the video streams as well as theembedded sensor data, is generally timestamped, video associated withthe events detected by the embedded sensor can be extracted and combinedon the server.

Embodiments of the server or computer may be further configured while acommunication link is open between the at least one motion capturesensor and the mobile device to discard at least a portion of the videooutside of the event start time to the event stop and save the videofrom the event start time to the event stop time with the motionanalysis data that occurs from the event start time to the event stoptime. Alternatively, if the communication link is not open, embodimentsof the computer may be further configured to save video and after theevent is received after the communication link is open, then discard atleast a portion of the video outside of the event start time to theevent stop and save the video from the event start time to the eventstop time with the motion analysis data that occurs from the event starttime to the event stop time. For example, in some embodiments of theinvention, data may be uploaded to a server as described above, and thelocation and orientation data associated with each device's data streammay be used to extract data that is relevant to a detected event. Forexample, a large set of mobile devices may be used to record video atvarious locations throughout a golf tournament. This video data may beuploaded to a server either continuously or after the tournament. Afterthe tournament, sensor data with event detections may also be uploadedto the same server. Post-processing of these various data streams canidentify particular video streams that were recorded in the physicalproximity of events that occurred and at the same time. Additionalfilters may select video streams where a camera was pointing in thecorrect direction to observe an event. These selected streams may becombined with the sensor data to form an aggregate data stream withmultiple video angles showing an event.

The system may obtain video from a camera coupled with the mobiledevice, or any camera that is separate from or otherwise remote from themobile device. In one or more embodiments, the video is obtained from aserver remote to the mobile device, for example obtained after a queryfor video at a location and time interval.

Embodiments of the server or computer may be configured to synchronizesaid video and said event data, or said motion analysis data via imageanalysis to more accurately determine a start event frame or stop eventframe in said video or both, that is most closely associated with saidevent start time or said event stop time or both. In one or moreembodiments of the invention, synchronization of clocks betweenrecording devices may be approximate. It may be desirable to improve theaccuracy of synchronizing data feeds from multiple recording devicesbased on the view of an event from each device. In one or moreembodiments, processing of multiple data streams is used to observesignatures of events in the different streams to assist withfine-grained synchronization. For example, an embedded sensor may besynchronized with a mobile device including a video camera, but the timesynchronization may be accurate only to within 100 milliseconds. If thevideo camera is recording video at 30 frames per second, the video framecorresponding to an event detection on the embedded sensor can only bedetermined within 3 frames based on the synchronized timestamps alone.In one embodiment of the device, video frame image processing can beused to determine the precise frame corresponding most closely to thedetected event. For instance, a shock from a snowboard hitting theground that is detected by an inertial sensor may be correlated with theframe at which the geometric boundary of the snowboard makes contactwith the ground. Other embodiments may use other image processingtechniques or other methods of detecting event signatures to improvesynchronization of multiple data feeds.

Embodiments of the at least one motion capture element may include alocation determination element configured to determine a location thatis coupled with the microcontroller and wherein the microcontroller isconfigured to transmit the location to the computer on the mobiledevice. In one or more embodiments, the system further includes a serverwherein the microcontroller is configured to transmit the location tothe server, either directly or via the mobile device, and wherein thecomputer or server is configured to form the event video from portionsof the video based on the location and the event start time and theevent stop time. For example, in one or more embodiments, the eventvideo may be trimmed to a particular length of the event, and transcodedto any or video quality, and overlaid or otherwise integrated withmotion analysis data or event data, e.g., velocity or acceleration datain any manner. Video may be stored locally in any resolution, depth, orimage quality or compression type to store video or any other techniqueto maximize storage capacity or frame rate or with any compression typeto minimize storage, whether a communication link is open or not betweenthe mobile device, at least one motion capture sensor and/or server. Inone or more embodiments, the velocity or other motion analysis data maybe overlaid or otherwise combined, e.g., on a portion beneath the video,that includes the event start and stop time, that may include any numberof seconds before and/or after the actual event to provide video of theswing before a ball strike event for example. In one or moreembodiments, the at least one motion capture sensor and/or mobiledevice(s) may transmit events and video to a server wherein the servermay determine that particular videos and sensor data occurred in aparticular location at a particular time and construct event videos fromseveral videos and several sensor events. The sensor events may be fromone sensor or multiple sensors coupled with a user and/or piece ofequipment for example. Thus the system may construct short videos thatcorrespond to the events, which greatly decreases video storagerequirements for example.

In one or more embodiments, the microcontroller or the computer isconfigured to determine a location of the event or the microcontrollerand the computer are configured to determine the location of the eventand correlate the location, for example by correlating or averaging thelocation to provide a central point of the event, and/or erroneouslocation data from initializing GPS sensors may be minimized. In thismanner, a group of users with mobile devices may generate videos of agolfer teeing off, wherein the event location of the at least one motioncapture device may be utilized and wherein the server may obtain videosfrom the spectators and generate an event video of the swing and ballstrike of the professional golfer, wherein the event video may utilizeframes from different cameras to generate a BULLET TIME® video fromaround the golfer as the golfer swings. The resulting video or videosmay be trimmed to the duration of the event, e.g., from the event starttime to the event stop time and/or with any pre or post predeterminedtime values around the event to ensure that the entire event is capturedincluding any setup time and any follow through time for the swing orother event.

In one or more embodiments, the computer on the mobile device mayrequest at least one image or video that contains the event from atleast one camera proximal to the event directly by broadcasting arequest for any videos taken in the area by any cameras, optionally thatmay include orientation information related to whether the camera wasnot only located proximally to the event, but also oriented or otherwisepointing at the event. In other embodiments, the video may be requestedby the computer on the mobile device from a remote server. In thisscenario, any location and/or time associated with an event may beutilized to return images and/or video near the event or taken at a timenear the event, or both. In one or more embodiments, the computer orserver may trim the video to correspond to the event duration and again,may utilize image processing techniques to further synchronize portionsof an event, such as a ball strike with the corresponding frame in thevideo that matches the acceleration data corresponding to the ballstrike on a piece of equipment for example.

Embodiments of the computer on the mobile device or on the server may beconfigured to display a list of one or more times at which an event hasoccurred or wherein one or more events has occurred. In this manner, auser may find events from a list to access the event videos in rapidfashion.

Embodiments of the invention may include at least one motion capturesensor that is physically coupled with said mobile device. Theseembodiments enable any type of mobile phone or camera system with anintegrated sensor, such as any type of helmet mounted camera or anymount that includes both a camera and a motion capture sensor togenerate event data and video data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the ideasconveyed through this disclosure will be more apparent from thefollowing more particular description thereof, presented in conjunctionwith the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the motion event recognition andvideo synchronization system.

FIG. 1A illustrates a logical hardware block diagram of an embodiment ofthe computer.

FIG. 1B illustrates an architectural view of an embodiment of thedatabase utilized in embodiments of the system.

FIG. 1C illustrates a flow chart for an embodiment of the processingperformed by embodiments of the computers in the system as shown inFIGS. 1 and 1A.

FIG. 1D illustrates a data flow diagram for an embodiment of the system.

FIG. 2A illustrates a helmet based mount that surrounds the head of auser wherein the helmet based mount holds a motion capture sensor. FIG.2B illustrates a neck insert based mount that enables retrofittingexisting helmets with a motion capture sensor.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up of the mount of FIGS. 2A-B showing theisolator between the motion capture sensor and external portion of thehelmet.

FIG. 4A illustrates a top cross sectional view of the helmet, padding,cranium, and brain of a user. FIG. 4B illustrates a rotationalconcussion event for the various elements shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates the input force to the helmet, G1, versus theobserved force within the brain and as observed by the sensor whenmounted within the isolator.

FIG. 6 illustrates the rotational acceleration values of the 3 axesalong with the total rotational vector amount along with video of theconcussion event as obtained from a camera and displayed with the motionevent data.

FIG. 7 illustrates a timeline display of a user along with peak andminimum angular speeds along the timeline shown as events along the timeline. In addition, a graph showing the lead and lag of the golf clubalong with the droop and drift of the golf club is shown in the bottomdisplay wherein these values determine how much the golf club shaft isbending in two axes as plotted against time.

FIG. 8 illustrates a sub-event scrub timeline that enables inputs nearthe start/stop points in time associated with sub-events to be scrolledto, played to or from, to easily enable viewing of sub-events.

FIG. 9 illustrates the relative locations along the timeline wheresub-events start and stop and the gravity associated with the start andstop times, which enable user inputs near those points to gravitate tothe start and stop times.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment that utilizes a mobile device as themotion capture element and another mobile device as the computer thatreceives the motion event data and video of the first user event.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the memory utilized to store datarelated to a potential event.

FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the functionalityspecifically programmed into the microcontroller to determine whether aprospective event has occurred.

FIG. 13 illustrates a typical event signature or template, which iscompared to motion capture data to eliminate false positive events.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of the motion capture elementconfigured with optional LED visual indicator for local display andviewing of event related information and an optional LCD configured todisplay a text or encoded message associated with the event.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of templates characteristic of motionevents associated with different types of equipment and/or instrumentedclothing along with areas in which the motion capture sensor personalitymay change to more accurately or more efficiently capture dataassociated with a particular period of time and/or sub-event.

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of a protective mouthpiece in frontview and at the bottom portion of the figure in top view, for example asworn in any contact sport such as, but not limited to soccer, boxing,football, wrestling or any other sport for example.

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of the algorithm utilized by anycomputer in FIG. 1 that is configured to display motion images andmotion capture data in a combined format.

FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment of the synchronization architecturethat may be utilized by one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates the detection of an event by one of the motioncapture sensors, transmission of the event detection to other motioncapture sensors and/or cameras, saving of the event motion data andtrimming of the video to correspond to the event.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A motion event recognition and video synchronization system and methodwill now be described. In the following exemplary description numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a more thoroughunderstanding of the ideas described throughout this specification. Itwill be apparent, however, to an artisan of ordinary skill thatembodiments of ideas described herein may be practiced withoutincorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein. Inother instances, specific aspects well known to those of ordinary skillin the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure thedisclosure. Readers should note that although examples of the innovativeconcepts are set forth throughout this disclosure, the claims, and thefull scope of any equivalents, are what define the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the motion event recognition andvideo synchronization system 100. Embodiments enable event based viewingand low power transmission of events and communication with an appexecuting on a mobile device and/or with external cameras to designatewindows that define the events. Enables recognition of motion events,and designation of events within images or videos, such as a shot, moveor swing of a player, a concussion of a player, boxer, rider or driver,or a heat stroke, hypothermia, seizure, asthma attack, epileptic attackor any other sporting or physical motion related event including walkingand falling. Events may be correlated with one or more images or videoas captured from internal/external camera or cameras or nanny cam, forexample to enable saving video of the event, such as the first steps ofa child, violent shaking events, sporting events including concussions,or falling events associated with an elderly person. As shown,embodiments of the system generally include a mobile device 101 andapplications that execute thereon, that includes computer 160, shown aslocated internally in mobile device 101 as a dotted outline, (i.e., alsosee functional view of computer 160 in FIG. 1A), display 120 coupled tocomputer 160 and a wireless communications interface (generally internalto the mobile device, see element 164 in FIG. 1A) coupled with thecomputer. Since mobile phones having mobile computers are ubiquitous,users of the system may purchase one or more motion capture elements andan application, a.k.a., “app”, that they install on their pre-existingphone to implement an embodiment of the system. Motion capturecapabilities are thus available at an affordable price for any user thatalready owns a mobile phone, tablet computer, music player, etc., whichhas never been possible before.

Each mobile device 101, 102, 102 a, 102 b may optionally include aninternal identifier reader 190, for example an RFID reader, or maycouple with an identifier reader or RFID reader (see mobile device 102)to obtain identifier 191. Alternatively, embodiments of the inventionmay utilize any wireless technology in any of the devices to communicatean identifier that identifies equipment 110 to the system. Embodimentsof the invention may also include any other type of identifier coupledwith the at least one motion capture sensor or the user or the piece ofequipment. In one or more embodiments, the identifier may include a teamand jersey number or student identifier number or license number or anyother identifier that enables relatively unique identification of aparticular event from a particular user or piece of equipment. Thisenables team sports or locations with multiple players or users to beidentified with respect to the app that is configured to receive dataassociated with a particular player or user. One or more embodimentsreceive the identifier, for example a passive RFID identifier or MACaddress or other serial number associated with the player or user andassociate the identifier with the event data and motion analysis data.

The system generally includes at least one motion capture element 111that couples with user 150 or with piece of equipment 110, via mount192, for example to a golf club, or baseball bat, tennis racquet, hockeystick, weapon, stick, sword, or any other piece of equipment for anysport, or other sporting equipment such as a shoe, belt, gloves,glasses, hat, or any other item. The at least one motion capture element111 may be placed at one end, both ends, or anywhere between both endsof piece of equipment 110 or anywhere on user 150, e.g., on a cap,headband, helmet, mouthpiece or any combination thereof, and may also beutilized for EI measurements of any item. The motion capture element mayoptionally include a visual marker, either passive or active, and/or mayinclude a wireless sensor, for example any sensor capable of providingany combination of one or more values associated with an orientation(North/South and/or up/down), position, velocity and/or acceleration ofthe motion capture element. The computer may be configured to obtaindata associated with an identifier unique to each piece of equipment110, e.g., clothing, bat, etc., for example from an RFID coupled withclub 110, i.e., identifier 191, and optionally associated with the atleast one motion capture element, either visually or wirelessly, analyzethe data to form motion analysis data and display the motion analysisdata on display 120 of mobile device 101. Motion capture element 111 maybe mounted on or near the equipment or on or near the user via motioncapture mount 192. Motion capture element 111 mounted on a helmet forexample may include an isolator comprising a material that is configuredto surround the motion capture element to approximate physicalacceleration dampening of cerebrospinal fluid around the user's brain tominimize translation of linear acceleration and rotational accelerationof event data to obtain an observed linear acceleration and an observedrotational acceleration of the user's brain. This lowers processingrequirements on the motion capture element microcontroller for exampleand enables low memory utilization and lower power requirements forevent based transmission of event data. The motion capture data frommotion capture element 111, any data associated with the piece ofequipment 110, such as identifier 191 and any data associated with user150, or any number of such users 150, such as second user 152 may bestored in locally in memory, or in a database local to the computer orin a remote database, for example database 172 for example that may becoupled with a server. Data may be stored in database 172 from each user150, 152 for example when a network or telephonic network link isavailable from motion capture element 111 to mobile device 101 and frommobile device 101 to network 170 or Internet 171 and to database 172.Data mining is then performed on a large data set associated with anynumber of users and their specific characteristics and performanceparameters. For example, in a golf embodiment of the invention, a clubID is obtained from the golf club and a shot is detected by the motioncapture element. Mobile computer 101 stores images/video of the user andreceives the motion capture data for the events/hits/shots/motion andthe location of the event on the course and subsequent shots anddetermines any parameters for each event, such as distance or speed atthe time of the event and then performs any local analysis and displayperformance data on the mobile device. When a network connection fromthe mobile device to network 170 or Internet 171 is available or forexample after a round of golf, the images/video, motion capture data andperformance data is uploaded to database 172, for later analysis and/ordisplay and/or data mining. In one or more embodiments, users 151, suchas original equipment manufacturers pay for access to the database, forexample via a computer such as computer 105 or mobile computer 101 orfrom any other computer capable of communicating with database 172 forexample via network 170, Internet 171 or via website 173 or a serverthat forms part of or is coupled with database 172. Data mining mayexecute on database 172, for example that may include a local servercomputer, or may be run on computer 105 or mobile device 101, 102, 102 aor 102 b and access a standalone embodiment of database 172 for example.Data mining results may be displayed on mobile device 101, computer 105,television broadcast or web video originating from camera 130, 130 a and103 b, or 104 or accessed via website 173 or any combination thereof.

One or more embodiments of the at least one motion capture element mayfurther include a light emitting element configured to output light ifthe event occurs. This may be utilized to display a potential, mild orsevere level of concussion on the outer portion of the helmet withoutany required communication to any external device for example. Differentcolors or flashing intervals may also be utilized to relay informationrelated to the event. Alternatively, or in combination, the at least onemotion capture element may further include an audio output elementconfigured to output sound if the event occurs or if the at least onemotion capture sensor is out of range of the computer or wherein thecomputer is configured to display and alert if the at least one motioncapture sensor is out of range of the computer, or any combinationthereof. Embodiments of the sensor may also utilize an LCD that outputsa coded analysis of the current event, for example in a Quick Response(QR) code or bar code for example so that a referee may obtain asnapshot of the analysis code on a mobile device locally, and so thatthe event is not viewed in a readable form on the sensor or wirelesslytransmitted and intercepted by anyone else.

One or more embodiments of the system may utilize a mobile device thatincludes at least one camera 130, for example coupled to the computerwithin the mobile device. This allows for the computer within mobiledevice 101 to command the camera 130 to obtain an image or images, forexample of the user during an athletic movement. The image(s) of theuser may be overlaid with displays and ratings to make the motionanalysis data more understandable to a human for example. Alternatively,detailed data displays without images of the user may also be displayedon display 120 or for example on the display of computer 105. In thismanner two-dimensional images and subsequent display thereof is enabled.If mobile device 101 contains two cameras, as shown in mobile device102, i.e., cameras 130 a and 130 b, then the cameras may be utilized tocreate a three-dimensional data set through image analysis of the visualmarkers for example. This allows for distances and positions of visualmarkers to be ascertained and analyzed. Images and/or video from anycamera in any embodiments of the invention may be stored on database172, for example associated with user 150, for data mining purposes. Inone or more embodiments of the invention image analysis on the imagesand/or video may be performed to determine make/models of equipment,clothes, shoes, etc., that is utilized, for example per age of user 150or time of day of play, or to discover any other pattern in the data.

Alternatively, for embodiments of mobile devices that have only onecamera, multiple mobile devices may be utilized to obtaintwo-dimensional data in the form of images that is triangulated todetermine the positions of visual markers. In one or more embodiments ofthe system, mobile device 101 and mobile device 102 a share image dataof user 150 to create three-dimensional motion analysis data. Bydetermining the positions of mobile devices 101 and 102 (via positiondetermination elements such as GPS chips in the devices as is common, orvia cell tower triangulation and which are not shown for brevity but aregenerally located internally in mobile devices just as computer 160 is),and by obtaining data from motion capture element 111 for examplelocations of pixels in the images where the visual markers are in eachimage, distances and hence speeds are readily obtained as one skilled inthe art will recognize.

Camera 103 may also be utilized either for still images or as is nowcommon, for video. In embodiments of the system that utilize externalcameras, any method of obtaining data from the external camera is inkeeping with the spirit of the system including wireless communicationof the data, or via wired communication as when camera 103 is dockedwith computer 105 for example, which then may transfer the data tomobile device 101.

In one or more embodiments of the system, the mobile device on which themotion analysis data is displayed is not required to have a camera,i.e., mobile device 102 b may display data even though it is notconfigured with a camera. As such, mobile device 102 b may obtain imagesfrom any combination of cameras on mobile device 101, 102, 102 a, camera103 and/or television camera 104 so long as any external camera maycommunicate images to mobile device 102 b. Alternatively, no camera isrequired at all to utilize the system. See also FIG. 17.

For television broadcasts, motion capture element 111 wirelesslytransmits data that is received by antenna 106. The wireless sensor datathus obtained from motion capture element 111 is combined with theimages obtained from television camera 104 to produce displays withaugmented motion analysis data that can be broadcast to televisions,computers such as computer 105, mobile devices 101, 102, 102 a, 102 b orany other device configured to display images. The motion analysis datacan be positioned on display 120 for example by knowing the location ofa camera (for example via GPS information), and by knowing the directionand/or orientation that the camera is pointing so long as the sensordata includes location data (for example GPS information). In otherembodiments, visual markers or image processing may be utilized to lockthe motion analysis data to the image, e.g., the golf club head can betracked in the images and the corresponding high, middle and lowposition of the club can be utilized to determine the orientation ofuser 150 to camera 130 or 104 or 103 for example to correctly plot theaugmented data onto the image of user 150. By time stamping images andtime stamping motion capture data, for example after synchronizing thetimer in the microcontroller with the timer on the mobile device andthen scanning the images for visual markers or sporting equipment atvarious positions, simplified motion capture data may be overlaid ontothe images. Any other method of combining images from a camera andmotion capture data may be utilized in one or more embodiments of theinvention. Any other algorithm for properly positioning the motionanalysis data on display 120 with respect to a user (or any otherdisplay such as on computer 105) may be utilized in keeping with thespirit of the system. For example, when obtaining events or groups ofevents via the sensor, after the app receives the events and/or timeranges to obtain images, the app may request image data from that timespan from it's local memory, any other mobile device, any other type ofcamera that may be communicated with and/or post event locations/timesso that external camera systems local to the event(s) may provide imagedata for the times of the event(s).

One such display that may be generated and displayed on mobile device101 include a BULLET TIME® view using two or more cameras selected frommobile devices 101, 102, 102 a, camera 103, and/or television camera 104or any other external camera. In this embodiment of the system, thecomputer is configured to obtain two or more images of user 150 and dataassociated with the at least one motion capture element (whether avisual marker or wireless sensor), wherein the two or more images areobtained from two or more cameras and wherein the computer is configuredto generate a display that shows slow motion of user 150 shown fromaround the user at various angles at normal speed. Such an embodimentfor example allows a group of fans to create their own BULLET TIME® shotof a golf pro at a tournament for example. The shots may be sent tocomputer 105 and any image processing required may be performed oncomputer 105 and broadcast to a television audience for example. Inother embodiments of the system, the users of the various mobile devicesshare their own set of images, and or upload their shots to a websitefor later viewing for example. Embodiments of the invention also allowimages or videos from other players having mobile devices to be utilizedon a mobile device related to another user so that users don't have toswitch mobile phones for example. In one embodiment, a video obtained bya first user for a piece of equipment in motion that is not associatedwith the second user having the video camera mobile phone mayautomatically transfer the video to the first user for display withmotion capture data associated with the first user. Alternatively, thefirst user's mobile phone may be utilized as a motion sensor in place ofor in addition to motion capture element 111 and the second user'smobile phone may be utilized to capture video of the first user while inmotion. The first user may optionally gesture on the phone, tap/shake,etc., to indicate that the second mobile phone should start/stop motioncapture for example.

FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of computer 160. In computer 160 includesprocessor 161 that executes software modules, commonly also known asapplications, generally stored as computer program instructions withinmain memory 162. Display interface 163 drives display 120 of mobiledevice 101 as shown in FIG. 1. Optional orientation/position module 167may include a North/South or up/down orientation chip or both. In one ormore embodiments, the orientation/position module may include a locationdetermination element coupled with the microcontroller. This may includea GPS device for example. Alternatively, or in combination, the computermay triangulate the location in concert with another computer, or obtainthe location from any other triangulation type of receiver, or calculatethe location based on images captured via a camera coupled with thecomputer and known to be oriented in a particular direction, wherein thecomputer calculates an offset from the mobile device based on thedirection and size of objects within the image for example. Optionaltemperature sensor may coupled with processor 161 via a wired orwireless link and may be utilized for example as an indicator ofhypothermia or heat stroke alone or in combination with any motiondetected that may be indicative of shaking or unconsciousness forexample. Communication interface 164 may include wireless or wiredcommunications hardware protocol chips and/or an RFID reader or an RFIDreader may couple to computer 160 externally or in any other manner forexample. In one or more embodiments of the system communicationinterface may include telephonic and/or data communications hardware. Inone or more embodiments communication interface 164 may include a Wi-Fi™or other IEEE 802.11 device and/or BLUETOOTH® wireless communicationsinterface or ZigBee® wireless device or any other wireless technology.BLUETOOTH® class 1 devices have a range of approximately 100 meters,class 2 devices have a range of approximately 10 meters. BLUETOOTH® LowPower devices have a range of approximately 50 meters. Any wirelessnetwork protocol or type may be utilized in embodiments of the system solong as mobile device 101 and motion capture element 111 can communicatewith one another. Processor 161, main memory 162, display interface 163,communication interface 164 and orientation/position module 167 maycommunicate with one another over communication infrastructure 165,which is commonly known as a “bus”. Communications path 166 may includewired or wireless medium that allows for communication with other wiredor wireless devices over network 170. Network 170 may communicate withInternet 171 and/or database 172. Database 172 may be utilized to saveor retrieve images or videos of users, or motion analysis data, or usersdisplayed with motion analysis data in one form or another. The datauploaded to the Internet, i.e., a remote database or remote server ormemory remote to the system may be viewed, analyzed or data mined by anycomputer that may obtain access to the data. This allows for originalequipment manufacturers to determine for a given user what sportingequipment is working best and/or what equipment to suggest. Data miningalso enables the planning of golf courses based on the data and/ormetadata associated with users, such as age, or any other demographicsthat may be entered into the system. Remote storage of data also enablesmedical applications such as morphological analysis, range of motionover time, and diabetes prevention and exercise monitoring andcompliance applications. Data mining based applications also allow forgames that use real motion capture data from other users, one or moreprevious performances of the same user, or historical players whetheralive or dead after analyzing motion pictures or videos of thehistorical players for example. Virtual reality and augmented virtualreality applications may also utilize the motion capture data orhistorical motion data. The system also enables uploading of performancerelated events and/or motion capture data to database 172, which forexample may be implemented as a social networking site. This allows forthe user to “tweet” high scores, or other metrics during or after playto notify everyone on the Internet of the new event. For example, one ormore embodiments include at least one motion capture element 111configured to couple with a user or piece of equipment or mobile devicecoupled with the user, wherein the at least one motion capture elementincludes a memory, a sensor configured to capture any combination ofvalues associated with an orientation, position, velocity, accelerationof the at least one motion capture element, a radio, and amicrocontroller coupled with the memory, the sensor and the radio. Themicrocontroller is configured to collect data that includes sensorvalues from the sensor, store the data in the memory, analyze the dataand recognize an event within the data to determine event data andtransmit the event data associated with the event via the radio.Embodiments of the system may also include an application configured toexecute on a mobile device wherein the mobile device includes acomputer, a wireless communication interface configured to communicatewith the radio to obtain the event data associated with the event. Thecomputer is coupled with wireless communication interface wherein thecomputer executes the application or “app” to configure the computer toreceive the event data from the wireless communication interface,analyze the event data to form motion analysis data, store the eventdata, or the motion analysis data, or both the event data and the motionanalysis data, and display information comprising the event data, or themotion analysis data, or both associated with the at least one user on adisplay.

FIG. 1B illustrates an architectural view of an embodiment of database172 utilized in embodiments of the system. As shown tables 180-186include information related to N number of users, M pieces of equipmentper user, P number of sensors per user or equipment, S number of sensordata per sensor, T number of patterns found in the other tables, Dnumber of data users and V videos. All tables shown in FIG. 1B areexemplary and may include more or less information as desired for theparticular implementation. Specifically, table 180 includes informationrelated to user 150 which may include data related to the user such asage, height, weight, sex, address or any other data. Table 181 includeinformation related to M number of pieces of equipment 110, which mayinclude clubs, racquets, bats, shirts, pants, shoes, gloves, helmets,etc., for example the manufacturer of the equipment, model of theequipment, and type of the equipment. For example, in a golf embodiment,the manufacturer may be the name of the manufacturer, the model may be aname or model number and the type may be the club number, i.e., 9 iron,the equipment ID may be identifier 191 in one or more embodiments of theinvention. Table 182 may include information related to P number ofsensors 111 on user 150 or equipment 110 or mobile computer 101. Thesensors associated with user 150 may include clothing, clubs, helmets,caps, headbands, mouthpieces, etc., the sensors associated withequipment 110 may for example be motion capture data sensors, while thesensors associated with mobile computer 101 may include sensors 167 forposition/orientation and sensors 130 for images/video for example. Table183 may include information related to S number of sensor data per userper equipment, wherein the table may include the time and location ofthe sensor data, or any other metadata related to the sensor data suchas temperature, weather, humidity, as obtained locally via thetemperature sensor shown in FIG. 1A, or via wireless communications orin any other manner for example, or the sensor data may include thisinformation or any combination thereof. The table may also contain amyriad of other fields, such as ball type, i.e., in a golf embodimentthe type of golf ball utilized may be saved and later data mined for thebest performing ball types, etc. This table may also include an eventtype as calculated locally, for example a potential concussion event.Table 184 may include information related to T number of patterns thathave been found in the data mining process for example. This may includefields that have been searched in the various tables with a particularquery and any resulting related results. Any data mining results tabletype may be utilized in one or more embodiments of the invention asdesired for the particular implementation. This may include searchresults of any kind, including EI measurements, which also may becalculated on computer 160 locally, or any other search value fromsimple queries to complex pattern searches. Table 185 may includeinformation related to D number of data mining users 151 and may includetheir access type, i.e., full database or pattern table, or limited to aparticular manufacturer, etc., the table may also include paymentrequirements and/or receipts for the type of usage that the data mininguser has paid for or agreed to pay for and any searches or suggestionsrelated to any queries or patterns found for example. Any other schema,including object oriented database relationships or memory based datastructures that allow for data mining of sensor data including motioncapture data is in keeping with the spirit of the invention. Althoughexemplary embodiments for particular activities are given, one skilledin the art will appreciate that any type of motion based activity may becaptured and analyzed by embodiments of the system using a motioncapture element and app that runs on a user's existing cell phone 101,102 or other computer 105 for example. Embodiments of the database mayinclude V number of videos 179 as held in table 186 for example thatinclude the user that generated the video, the video data, time andlocation of the video. The fields are optional and in one or moreembodiments, the videos may be stored on any of the mobile devices inthe system or any combination of the mobile devices and server/DB 172.In one or more embodiments, the videos may be broken into a subset ofvideos that are associated with the “time” field of the sensor datatable 183, wherein the time field may include an event start time andevent stop time. In this scenario, large videos may be trimmed into oneor more smaller event videos that correspond to generally smaller timewindows associated with events of the event type held in table 183 togreatly reduce video storage requirements of the system.

There are a myriad of applications that benefit and which are enabled byembodiments of the system that provide for viewing and analyzing motioncapture data on the mobile computer or server/database, for example fordata mining database 172 by users 151. For example, users 151 mayinclude compliance monitors, including for example parents, children orelderly, managers, doctors, insurance companies, police, military, orany other entity such as equipment manufacturers that may data mine forproduct improvement. For example in a tennis embodiment by searching fortop service speeds for users of a particular size or age, or in a golfembodiment by searching for distances, i.e., differences in sequentiallocations in table 183 based on swing speed in the sensor data field intable 183 to determine which manufacturers have the best clubs, or bestclubs per age or height or weight per user, or a myriad of otherpatterns. Other embodiments related to compliance enable messages frommobile computer 101 or from server/database to be generated ifthresholds for G-forces, (high or zero or any other levels), to be sentto compliance monitors, managers, doctors, insurance companies, etc., aspreviously described. Users 151 may include marketing personnel thatdetermine which pieces of equipment certain users own and which relateditems that other similar users may own, in order to target sales atparticular users. Users 151 may include medical personnel that maydetermine how much movement a sensor for example coupled with a shoe,i.e., a type of equipment, of a diabetic child has moved and how muchthis movement relates to the average non-diabetic child, whereinsuggestions as per table 185 may include giving incentives to thediabetic child to exercise more, etc., to bring the child in line withhealthy children. Sports physicians, physiologists or physicaltherapists may utilize the data per user, or search over a large numberof users and compare a particular movement of a user or range of motionfor example to other users to determine what areas a given user canimprove on through stretching or exercise and which range of motionareas change over time per user or per population and for example whattype of equipment a user may utilize to account for changes over time,even before those changes take place. Data mining motion capture dataand image data related to motion provides unique advantages to users151. Data mining may be performed on flex parameters measured by thesensors to determine if sporting equipment, shoes, human body parts orany other item changes in flexibility over time or between equipmentmanufacturers or any combination thereof.

To ensure that analysis of user 150 during a motion capture includesimages that are relatively associated with the horizon, i.e., nottilted, the system may include an orientation module that executes oncomputer 160 within mobile device 101 for example. The computer isconfigured to prompt a user to align the camera along a horizontal planebased on orientation data obtained from orientation hardware withinmobile device 101. Orientation hardware is common on mobile devices asone skilled in the art will appreciate. This allows the image socaptured to remain relatively level with respect to the horizontalplane. The orientation module may also prompt the user to move thecamera toward or away from the user, or zoom in or out to the user toplace the user within a graphical “fit box”, to somewhat normalize thesize of the user to be captured. Images may also be utilized by users toprove that they have complied with doctors orders for example to meetcertain motion requirements.

Embodiments of the system are further configured to recognize the atleast one motion capture element associated with user 150 or piece ofequipment 110 and associate at least one motion capture element 111 withassigned locations on user 150 or piece of equipment 110. For example,the user can shake a particular motion capture element when prompted bythe computer within mobile device 101 to acknowledge which motioncapture element the computer is requesting an identity for.Alternatively, motion sensor data may be analyzed for position and/orspeed and/or acceleration when performing a known activity andautomatically classified as to the location of mounting of the motioncapture element automatically, or by prompting the user to acknowledgethe assumed positions. Sensors may be associated with a particularplayer by team name and jersey number for example and stored in thememory of the motion capture sensor for transmission of events. Anycomputer shown in FIG. 1 may be utilized to program the identifierassociated with the particular motion capture sensor in keeping with thespirit of the invention.

One or more embodiments of the computer in mobile device 101 isconfigured to obtain at least one image of user 150 and display athree-dimensional overlay onto the at least one image of user 150wherein the three-dimensional overlay is associated with the motionanalysis data. Various displays may be displayed on display 120. Thedisplay of motion analysis data may include a rating associated with themotion analysis data, and/or a display of a calculated ball flight pathassociated with the motion analysis data and/or a display of a time lineshowing points in time along a time axis where peak values associatedwith the motion analysis data occur and/or a suggest training regimen toaid the user in improving mechanics of the user. These filtered oranalyzed data sensor results may be stored in database 172, for examplein table 183, or the raw data may be analyzed on the database (or serverassociated with the database or in any other computer or combinationthereof in the system shown in FIG. 1 for example), and then displayedon mobile computer 101 or on website 173, or via a television broadcastfrom camera 104 for example. Data mining results may be combined in anymanner with the unique displays of the system and shown in any desiredmanner as well.

Embodiments of the system may also present an interface to enable user150 to purchase piece of equipment 110 over the wireless interface ofmobile device 101, for example via the Internet, or via computer 105which may be implemented as a server of a vendor. In addition, forcustom fitting equipment, such as putter shaft lengths, or any othercustom sizing of any type of equipment, embodiments of the system maypresent an interface to enable user 150 to order a customer fitted pieceof equipment over the wireless interface of mobile device 101.Embodiments of the invention also enable mobile device 101 to suggestbetter performing equipment to user 150 or to allow user 150 to searchfor better performing equipment as determined by data mining of database172 for distances of golf shots per club for users with swing velocitieswithin a predefined range of user 150. This allows for real lifeperformance data to be mined and utilized for example by users 151, suchas OEMs to suggest equipment to user 150, and be charged for doing so,for example by paying for access to data mining results as displayed inany computer shown in FIG. 1 or via website 173 for example. In one ormore embodiments of the invention database 172 keeps track of OEM datamining and is configured to bill users 151 for the amount of access eachof users 151 has purchased and/or used for example over a giving billingperiod. See FIG. 1B for example.

Embodiments of the system are configured to analyze the data obtainedfrom at least one motion capture element and determine how centered acollision between a ball and the piece of equipment is based onoscillations of the at least one motion capture element coupled with thepiece of equipment and display an impact location based on the motionanalysis data. This performance data may also be stored in database 172and used by OEMs or coaches for example to suggest clubs with higherprobability of a centered hit as data mined over a large number ofcollisions for example.

While FIG. 1A depicts a physical device, the scope of the systems andmethods set forth herein may also encompass a virtual device, virtualmachine or simulator embodied in one or more computer programs executingon a computer or computer system and acting or providing a computersystem environment compatible with the methods and processesimplementing the disclosed ideas. Where a virtual machine, process,device or otherwise performs substantially similarly to that of aphysical computer system of the system, such a virtual platform willalso fall within the scope of a system of the disclosure,notwithstanding the description herein of a physical system such as thatin FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C illustrates a flow chart for an embodiment of the processingperformed and enabled by embodiments of the computers utilized in thesystem. In one or more embodiments of the system, a plurality of motioncapture elements are optionally calibrated at 301. In some embodimentsthis means calibrating multiple sensors on a user or piece of equipmentto ensure that the sensors are aligned and/or set up with the same speedor acceleration values for a given input motion. In other embodiments ofthe invention, this means placing multiple motion capture sensors on acalibration object that moves and calibrates the orientation, position,speed, acceleration, or any combination thereof at the same time. Thisstep general includes providing motion capture elements and optionalmount (or alternatively allowing a mobile device with motion capturesensing capabilities to be utilized), and an app for example that allowsa user with an existing mobile phone or computer to utilize embodimentsof the system to obtain motion capture data, and potentially analyzeand/or send messages based thereon. In one or more embodiments, usersmay simply purchase a motion capture element and an app and beginimmediately using the system. The system captures motion data withmotion capture element(s) at 302, recognized any events within themotion capture data, i.e., a linear and/or rotational acceleration overa threshold indicative of a concussion for example at 303, and sends themotion capture data to a mobile computer 101, 102 or 105 for example,which may include an IPOD®, ITOUCH®, IPAD®, IPHONE®, ANDROID® Phone orany other type of computer that a user may utilize to locally collectdata at 304. In one or more embodiments the sensor may transmit an eventto any other motion capture sensor to start an event data storageprocess on the other sensors for example. In other embodiments, thesensor may transmit the event to other mobile devices to signify thatvideos for the event should be saved with unneeded portions of the videodiscarded for example, to enable the video to be trimmed either near thepoint in time of the event or at a later time. In one or moreembodiments, the system minimizes the complexity of the sensor andoffloads processing to extremely capable computing elements found inexisting mobile phones and other electronic devices for example. Thetransmitting of data from the motion capture elements to the user'scomputer may happen when possible, periodically, on an event basis, whenpolled, or in any other manner as will be described in various sectionsherein. This saves great amount of power compared to known systems thatcontinuously send raw data in two ways, first data may be sent in eventpackets, within a time window around a particular motion event whichgreatly reduces the data to a meaningful small subset of total raw data,and secondly the data may be sent less than continuously, or at definedtimes, or when asked for data so as to limit the total number oftransmissions. In one or more embodiments, the event may displayedlocally, for example with an LED flashing on the motion capture sensor111, for example yellow slow flashing for potential concussion or redfast flashing for probably concussion at 305. Alternatively, or incombination, the alert or event may be transmitted and displayed on anyother computer or mobile device shown in FIG. 1 for example.

The main intelligence in the system is generally in the mobile computeror server where more processing power may be utilized and so as to takeadvantage of the communications capabilities that are ubiquitous inexisting mobile computers for example. In one or more embodiments of thesystem, the mobile computer may optionally obtain an identifier from theuser or equipment at 306, or this identifier may be transmitted as partof step 305, such as a passive RFID or active RFID or other identifiersuch as a team/jersey number or other player ID, which may be utilizedby the mobile computer to determine what user has just been potentiallyinjured, or what weight as user is lifting, or what shoes a user isrunning with, or what weapon a user is using, or what type of activity auser is using based on the identifier of the equipment. The mobilecomputer may analyze the motion capture data locally at 307 and display,i.e., show or send information such as a message for example when athreshold is observed in the data, for example when too many G-forceshave been registered by a player, soldier or race car driver, or whennot enough motion is occurring (either at the time or based on thepatterns of data in the database as discussed below based on the user'stypical motion patterns or other user's motion patterns for example.) Inother embodiments, once a user has performed a certain amount of motion,a message may be sent to safety or compliance monitor(s) at 307 to storeor otherwise display the data, including for example referees, parents,children or elderly, managers, doctors, insurance companies, police,military, or any other entity such as equipment manufacturers. Themessage may be an SMS message, or email, or tweet or any other type ofelectronic communication. If the particular embodiment is configured forremote analysis or only remote analysis, then the motion capture datamay be sent to the server/database at 308. If the implementation doesnot utilize a remote database, the analysis on the mobile computer islocal. If the implementation includes a remote database, then theanalysis may be performed on the mobile computer or server/database orboth at 309. Once the database obtains the motion capture data, then thedata may be analyzed and a message may be sent from the server/databaseto compliance personnel or business entities as desired to display theevent alone or in combination or with respect to previous event dataassociated with the user or other users at 310.

Embodiments of the invention make use of the data from the mobilecomputer and/or server for gaming, morphological comparing, compliance,tracking calories burned, work performed, monitoring of children orelderly based on motion or previous motion patterns that vary during theday and night, safety monitoring for players, troops when G-forcesexceed a threshold or motion stops, local use of running, jumpingthrowing motion capture data for example on a cell phone includingvirtual reality applications that make use of the user's current and/orprevious data or data from other users, or play music or select a playlist based on the type of motion a user is performing or data mining.For example if motion is similar to a known player in the database, thenthat user's playlist may be sent to the user's mobile computer 101. Theprocessing may be performed locally so if the motion is fast, fast musicis played and if the motion is slow, then slow music may be played. Anyother algorithm for playing music based on the motion of the user is inkeeping with the spirit of the invention. Any use of motion capture dataobtained from a motion capture element and app on an existing user'smobile computer is in keeping with the spirit of the invention,including using the motion data in virtual reality environments to showrelative motion of an avatar of another player using actual motion datafrom the user in a previous performance or from another user including ahistorical player for example. Display of information is generallyperformed via three scenarios, wherein display information is based onthe user's motion analysis data or related to the user's piece ofequipment and previous data, wherein previous data may be from the sameuser/equipment or one or more other users/equipment. Under thisscenario, a comparison of the current motion analysis data with previousdata associated with this user/equipment allows for patterns to beanalyzed with an extremely cost effective system having a motion capturesensor and app. Under another scenario, the display of information is afunction of the current user's performance, so that the previous dataselected from the user or another user/equipment is based on the currentuser's performance. This enables highly realistic game play, for examplea virtual tennis game against a historical player wherein the swings ofa user are effectively responded to by the capture motion from ahistorical player. This type of realistic game play with actual databoth current and previously stored data, for example a user playingagainst an average pattern of a top 10 player in tennis, i.e., the speedof serves, the speed and angle of return shots, for a given input shotof a user makes for game play that is as realistic as is possible.Television images may be for example analyzed to determine swing speedsand types of shots taken by historical players that may no longer bealive to test one's skills against a master, as if the master was stillalive and currently playing the user. Compliance and monitoring by theuser or a different user may be performed in a third scenario withoutcomparison to the user's previous or other user's previous data whereinthe different user does not have access to or own for example the mobilecomputer. In other words, the mobile phone is associated with the userbeing monitored and the different user is obtaining information relatedto the current performance of a user for example wearing a motioncapture element, such as a baby, or a diabetes patient.

FIG. 1D illustrates a data flow diagram for an embodiment of the system.As shown motion capture data is sent from a variety of motion captureelements 111 on many different types of equipment 110 or associated withuser 150, for example on clothing, a helmet, headband, cap, mouthpieceor anywhere else coupled with the user. The equipment or user mayoptionally have an identifier 191 that enables the system to associate avalue with the motion, i.e., the weight being lifted, the type ofracquet being used, the type of electronic device being used, i.e., agame controller or other object such as baby pajamas associated withsecond user 152, e.g., a baby. In one or more embodiments, elements 191in the figure may be replaced or augmented with motion capture elements111 as one skilled in the art will appreciate. In one or moreembodiments of the system, mobile computer 101 receives the motioncapture data, for example in event form and for example on an eventbasis or when requested by mobile computer 101, e.g., after motioncapture elements 111 declares that there is data and turns on a receiverfor a fix amount of time to field requests so as to not waste power, andif no requests are received, then turn the receiver off for a period oftime. Once the data is in mobile computer 101, then the data isanalyzed, for example to take raw or event based motion capture data andfor example determine items such as average speed, etc., that are morehumanly understandable in a concise manner. The data may be stored,shown to the right of mobile computer 101 and then the data may bedisplayed to user 150, or 151, for example in the form of a monitor orcompliance text or email or on a display associated with mobile computer101 or computer 105. This enables users not associated with the motioncapture element and optionally not even the mobile computer potentiallyto obtain monitor messages, for example saying that the baby isbreathing slowly, or for example to watch a virtual reality match orperformance, which may include a user supplying motion capture datacurrently, a user having previously stored data or a historical player,such as a famous golfer, etc., after analysis of motion in video frompast tournament performance(s). In gaming scenarios, where the dataobtained currently, for example from user 150 or equipment 110, thedisplay of data, for example on virtual reality glasses may make use ofthe previous data from that user/equipment or another user/equipment torespond to the user's current motion data, i.e., as a function of theuser's input. The previous data may be stored anywhere in the system,e.g., in the mobile computer 101, computer 105 or on the server ordatabase 172 (see FIG. 1). The previous data may be utilized for exampleto indicate to user 151 that user 150 has undergone a certain number ofpotential concussion events, and therefore must heal for a particularamount of time before playing again. Insurance companies may demand suchcompliance to lower medical expenses for example. Video may be storedand retrieved from mobile device 101, computer 105 or as shown in FIG.1, on server or in database coupled with server 172 to form event videosthat include the event data and the video of the event shownsimultaneously for example on a display, e.g., overlaid or shown inseparate portions of the display of mobile computer 101 or computer 105generally.

FIG. 2A illustrates a helmet 110 a based mount that surrounds the head150 a of a user wherein the helmet based mount holds a motion capturesensor 111, for example as shown on the rear portion of the helmet. FIG.2B illustrates a neck insert based mount, shown at the bottom rearportion of the helmet, that enables retrofitting existing helmets with amotion capture sensor 111. In embodiments that include at least onemotion capture sensor that is configured to be coupled with or otherwiseworn near the user's head 150 a, the microcontroller may be furtherconfigured to calculate of a location of impact on the user's head. Thecalculation of the location of impact on the user's head is based on thephysical geometry of the user's head and/or helmet. For example, ifmotion capture element 111 indicates a rearward acceleration with norotation (to the right in the figure as shown), then the location ofimpact may be calculated by tracing the vector of acceleration back tothe direction of the outside perimeter of the helmet or user's head.This non-rotational calculation effectively indicates that the line offorce passes near or through the center of gravity of the user'shead/helmet, otherwise rotational forces are observed by motion captureelement 111. If a sideward vector is observed at the motion captureelement 111, then the impact point is calculated to be at the side ofthe helmet/head and through the center of gravity. Hence, any otherimpact that does not impart a rotational acceleration to the motioncapture sensor over at least a time period near the peak of theacceleration for example, or during any other time period, may beassumed to be imparted in a direction to the helmet/head that passesthrough the center of gravity. Hence, the calculation of the point ofimpact is calculated as the intersection of the outer perimeter of thehelmet/head that a vector of force is detected and traversed backwardsto the point of impact by calculating the distance and angle back fromthe center of gravity. For example, if the acceleration vector is at 45degrees with no rotation, then the point of impact is 45 degrees backfrom the center of gravity of the helmet/head, hence calculating thesine of 45, approximately 0.7 multiplied by the radius of the helmet or5 inches, results in an impact about 3.5 inches from the front of thehelmet. Alternatively, the location of impact may be kept in angularformat to indicate that the impact was at 45 degrees from the front ofthe helmet/head. Conversely, if rotational acceleration is observedwithout linear acceleration, then the helmet/head is rotating about thesensor. In this scenario, the force required to rotate the brain passesin front of the center of gravity and is generally orthogonal to a linedefined as passing through the center of gravity and the sensor, e.g., aside impact, otherwise translation linear acceleration would beobserved. In this case, the location of impact then is on the side ofthe helmet/head opposite the direction of the acceleration. Hence, thesetwo calculations of location of impact as examples of simplified methodsof calculations that may be utilized although any other vector basedalgorithm that takes into account the mass of the head/helmet and thesize of the head/helmet may be utilized. One such algorithm may utilizeany mathematical equations such as F=m*a, i.e., Force equal mass timesacceleration, and Torque=rXF, where r is the position vector at theouter portion of the head/helmet, X is the cross product and F is theForce vector, to calculate the force vector and translate back to theouter perimeter of the helmet/head to calculate the Force vectorimparted at that location if desired. Although described with respect toa helmet, other embodiments of the at least one motion capture sensormay be configured to be coupled with a hat or cap, within a protectivemouthpiece, using any type of mount, enclosure or coupling mechanism.Similar calculations may be utilized for the hat/cap/mouthpiece todetermine a location/direction of impact, linear or rotational forcesfrom the accelerations or any other quantities that may be indicative ofconcussion related events for example. Embodiments may include atemperature sensor coupled with the at least one motion capture sensoror with the microcontroller for example as shown in FIG. 1A. Thetemperature sensor may be utilized alone or in combination with themotion capture element, for example to determine if the body or head isshivering, i.e., indicative of hypothermia, or if no movement isdetected and the temperature for example measure wirelessly or via awire based temperature sensor indicates that the body or brain is abovea threshold indicative of heat stroke.

Embodiments of the invention may also utilize an isolator configured tosurround the at least one motion capture element to approximate physicalacceleration dampening of cerebrospinal fluid around the user's brain tominimize translation of linear acceleration and rotational accelerationof the event data to obtain an observed linear acceleration and anobserved rotational acceleration of the user's brain. Thus embodimentsdo not have to translate forces or acceleration values or any othervalues from the helmet based acceleration to the observed brainacceleration values and thus embodiments of the invention utilize lesspower and storage to provide event specific data, which in turnminimizes the amount of data transfer which yields lower transmissionpower utilization. Different isolators may be utilized on afootball/hockey/lacrosse player's helmet based on the type of paddinginherent in the helmet. Other embodiments utilized in sports wherehelmets are not worn, or occasionally worn may also utilize at least onemotion capture sensor on a cap or hat, for example on a baseballplayer's hat, along with at least one sensor mounted on a battinghelmet. Headband mounts may also be utilized in sports where a cap isnot utilized, such as soccer to also determine concussions. In one ormore embodiments, the isolator utilized on a helmet may remain in theenclosure attached to the helmet and the sensor may be removed andplaced on another piece of equipment that does not make use of anisolator that matches the dampening of a user's brain fluids.Embodiments may automatically detect a type of motion and determine thetype of equipment that the motion capture sensor is currently attachedto based on characteristic motion patterns associated with certain typesof equipment, i.e., surfboard versus baseball bat. In one or moreembodiments an algorithm that may be utilized to calculate the physicalcharacteristics of an isolator may include mounting a motion capturesensor on a helmet and mounting a motion capture sensor in a headform ina crash test dummy head wherein the motion capture sensor in theheadform is enclosed in an isolator. By applying linear and rotationalaccelerations to the helmet and observing the difference in valuesobtained by the helmet sensor and observed by the sensor in the headformfor example with respect to a sensor placed in a cadaver head within ahelmet, the isolator material of the best matching dampening value maybe obtained that most closely matches the dampening effect of a humanbrain.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up of the mount of FIGS. 2A-B showing theisolator between the motion capture sensor and external portion of thehelmet. Embodiments of the invention may be configured toobtain/calculate a linear acceleration value or a rotationalacceleration value or both. This enables rotational events to bemonitored for concussions as well as linear accelerations. As shown, anexternal acceleration G1 may impart a lower acceleration more associatedwith the acceleration observed by the human brain, namely G2 on sensor111 by utilizing isolator 111 c within sensor mount 111 b. This enablesrotational events to be monitored for concussions as well as linearaccelerations. Other events may make use of the linear and/or rotationalacceleration and/or velocity, for example as compared against patternsor templates to not only switch sensor personalities during an event toalter the capture characteristics dynamically, but also to characterizethe type of equipment currently being utilized with the current motioncapture sensor. This enables a single motion capture element purchase bya user to instrument multiple pieces of equipment or clothing byenabling the sensor to automatically determine what type of equipment orpiece of clothing the sensor is coupled to based on the motion capturedby the sensor when compared against characteristic patterns or templatesof motion.

FIG. 4A illustrates a top cross sectional view of the motion captureelement 111 mounted on helmet 110 a having padding 110 a 1 thatsurrounds cranium 401, and brain 402 of a user. FIG. 4B illustrates arotational concussion event for the various elements shown in FIG. 4. Asshown, different acceleration values may be imparted on the human brain402 and cranium 401 having center of gravity 403 and surrounded bypadding 110 a 1 in helmet 110 a. As shown, to move within a unit timeperiod, the front portion of the brain must accelerate at a higher rateG2a, than the rear portion of the brain at G2c or at G2b at the centerof gravity. Hence, for a given rotational acceleration value differentareas of the brain may be affected differently. One or more embodimentsof the invention may thus transmit information not only related tolinear acceleration, but also with rotational acceleration.

FIG. 5 illustrates the input force to the helmet, G1, e.g., as shown at500 g, versus the observed force within the brain G2, and as observed bythe sensor when mounted within the isolator and as confirmed with knownheadform acceleration measurement systems. The upper right graph showsthat two known headform systems confirm acceleration values observed byan isolator based motion capture element 111 shown in FIG. 4A withrespect to headform mounted accelerometers.

FIG. 6 illustrates the rotational acceleration values of the 3 axesalong with the total rotational vector amount along with video of theconcussion event as obtained from a camera and displayed with the motionevent data. In one or more embodiments, the acceleration values from agiven sensor may be displayed for rotational (as shown) or linearvalues, for example by double tapping a mobile device screen, or in anyother manner. Embodiments of the invention may transmit the event dataassociated with the event using a connectionless broadcast message. Inone or more embodiments, depending on the wireless communicationemployed, broadcast messages may include payloads with a limited amountof data that may be utilized to avoid handshaking and overhead of aconnection based protocol. In other embodiments connectionless orconnection based protocols may be utilized in any combination. In thismanner, a referee may obtain nearly instantaneous readouts of potentialconcussion related events on a mobile device, which allows the refereeto obtain medical assistance in rapid fashion.

In one or more embodiments, the computer may access previously storedevent data or motion analysis data associated with the user or piece ofequipment, for example to determine the number of concussions or fallsor other swings, or any other motion event. Embodiments may also presentevent data associated with the at least one user on a display based onthe event data or motion analysis data associated with the user or pieceof equipment and the previously stored event data or motion analysisdata associated with the user or piece of equipment or with at least oneother user or other piece of equipment. This enables comparison ofmotion events, in number or quantitative value, e.g., the maximumrotational acceleration observed by the user or other users in aparticular game or historically. In addition, patterns or templates thatdefine characteristic motion of particular pieces of equipment fortypical events may be dynamically updated, for example on a centralserver or locally, and dynamically updated in motion capture sensors viathe wireless interface in one or more embodiments. This enables sensorsto improve over time. Hence, the display shown in FIG. 6 may alsoindicate the number of concussions previously stored for a givenboxer/player and enable the referee/doctor to make a decision as towhether or not the player may keep playing or not.

Embodiments of the invention may transmit the information to a displayon a visual display coupled with the computer or a remote computer, forexample over broadcast television or the Internet for example. Hence,the display in FIG. 6 may be also shown to a viewing audience, forexample in real-time to indicate the amount of force imparted upon theboxer/player/rider, etc.

FIG. 7 illustrates a timeline display 2601 of a user along with peak andminimum angular speeds along the timeline shown as events along the timeline. In addition, a graph showing the lead and lag of the golf club2602 along with the droop and drift of the golf club is shown in thebottom display wherein these values determine how much the golf clubshaft is bending in two axes as plotted against time. An embodiment ofthe display is shown in FIG. 8 with simplified time line and motionrelated event (maximum speed of the swing) annotated on the display.

FIG. 8 illustrates a sub-event scrub timeline that enables inputs nearthe start/stop points 802 a-d in time, i.e., sub-event time locationsshown in FIG. 7 and associated with sub-events to be scrolled to, playedto or from, to easily enable viewing of sub-events. For example a golfswing may include sub-events such as an address, swing back, swingforward, strike, follow through. The system may display time locationsfor the sub-events 802 a-d and accept user input near the location toassert that the video should start or stop at that point in time, orscroll to or back to that point in time for ease of viewing sub-eventsfor example. User input element 801 may be utilized to drag the time toa nearby sub-event for example to position the video at a desired pointin time. Alternatively, or in combination a user input such as assertinga finger press near another sub-event point in time while the video isplaying, may indicate that the video should stop at the next sub-eventpoint in time. The user interface may also be utilized to control-dragthe points to more precisely synchronize the video to the frame in whicha particular sub-event or event occurs. For example, the user may holdthe control key and drag a point 802 b to the left or right to match theframe of the video to the actual point in time where the velocity of theclub head is zero for example to more closely synchronize the video tothe actual motion analysis data shown, here Swing Speed in miles perhour. Any other user gesture may be utilized in keeping with the spiritof the invention to synchronize a user frame to the motion analysisdata, such as voice control, arrow keys, etc.

FIG. 9 illustrates the relative locations along the timeline wheresub-events 802 a and 802 b start and stop and the gravity associatedwith the start and stop times, which enable user inputs near thosepoints to gravitate to the start and stop times. For example, whendragging the user interface element 801 left and right along the timeline, the user interface element may appear to move toward the potentialwell 802 a and 802 b, so that the user interface element is easier tomove to the start/stop point of a sub-event.

In one or more embodiments, the computer is further configured torequest at least one image or video that contains the event from atleast one camera proximal to the event. This may include a broadcastmessage requesting video from a particular proximal camera or a camerathat is pointing in the direction of the event. In one or moreembodiments, the computer is further configured to broadcast a requestfor camera locations proximal to the event or oriented to view theevent, and optionally display the available cameras, or videos therefromfor the time duration around the event of interest. In one or moreembodiments, the computer is further configured to display a list of oneor more times at which the event has occurred, which enables the userobtain the desired event video via the computer, and/or to independentlyrequest the video from a third party with the desired event times. Thecomputer may obtain videos from the server 172 as well and locally trimthe video to the desired events. This may be utilized to obtain thirdparty videos or videos from systems that do not directly interface withthe computer, but which may be in communication with the server 172.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment that utilizes a mobile device 102 b asthe motion capture element 111 a and another mobile device 102 a as thecomputer that receives the motion event data and video of the first userevent. The view from mobile device 102 a is shown in the left upperportion of the figure. In one or more embodiments, the at least onemotion capture sensor is coupled with the mobile device and for exampleuses an internal motion sensor 111 a within or coupled with the mobiledevice. This enables motion capture and event recognition with minimaland ubiquitous hardware, e.g., using a mobile device with a built-inaccelerometer. In one or more embodiments, a first mobile device 102 bmay be coupled with a user recording motion data, here shownskateboarding, while a second mobile device 102 a is utilized to recorda video of the motion. In one or more embodiments, the user undergoingmotion may gesture, e.g., tap N times on the mobile device to indicatethat the second user's mobile device should start recording video orstop recording video. Any other gesture may be utilized to communicateevent related or motion related indications between mobile devices.

Thus embodiments of the invention may recognize any type of motionevent, including events related to motion that is indicative ofstanding, walking, falling, a heat stroke, seizure, violent shaking, aconcussion, a collision, abnormal gait, abnormal or non-existentbreathing or any combination thereof or any other type of event having aduration of time during with motion occurs. Events may also be of anygranularity, for example include sub-events that have known signatures,or otherwise match a template or pattern of any type, includingamplitude and/or time thresholds in particular sets of linear orrotational axes. For example, events indicating a skateboard push-off orseries of pushes may be grouped into a sub-event such as “prep formaneuver”, while rotational axes in X for example may indicate“skateboard flip/roll”. In one or more embodiments, the events may begrouped and stored/sent.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the memory utilized to store data.Memory 4601 may for example be integral to the microcontroller in motioncapture element 111 or may couple with the microcontroller, as forexample a separate memory chip. Memory 4601 as shown may be configuredto include one or more memory buffer 4610, 4611 and 4620, 4621respectively. One embodiment of the memory buffer that may be utilizedis a ring buffer. The ring buffer may be implemented to be overwrittenmultiple times until an event occurs. The length of the ring buffer maybe from 0 to N memory units. There may for example be M ring buffers,for M strike events for example. The number M may be any number greaterthan zero. In one or more embodiments, the number M may be equal to orgreater than the number of expected events, e.g., number of hits, orshots for a round of golf, or any other number for example that allowsall motion capture data to be stored on the motion capture element untildownloaded to a mobile computer or the Internet after one or moreevents. In one embodiment, a pointer, for example called HEAD keepstrack of the head of the buffer. As data is recorded in the buffer, theHEAD is moved forward by the appropriate amount pointing to the nextfree memory unit. When the buffer becomes full, the pointer wraps aroundto the beginning of the buffer and overwrites previous values as itencounters them. Although the data is being overwritten, at any instancein time (t), there is recorded sensor data from time (t) back dependingon the size of the buffer and the rate of recording. As the sensorrecords data in the buffer, an “Event” in one or more embodiments stopsnew data from overwriting the buffer. Upon the detection of an Event,the sensor can continue to record data in a second buffer 4611 to recordpost Event data, for example for a specific amount of time at a specificcapture rate to complete the recording of a prospective shot. Memorybuffer 4610 now contains a record of data for a desired amount of timefrom the Event backwards, depending on the size of the buffer andcapture rate along with post Event data in the post event buffer 4611.Video may also be stored in a similar manner and later trimmed, see FIG.19 for example.

For example, in a golf swing, the event can be the impact of the clubhead with the ball. Alternatively, the event can be the impact of theclub head with the ground, which may give rise to a false event. Inother embodiments, the event may be an acceleration of a user's headwhich may be indicative of a concussion event, or a shot fired from aweapon, or a ball striking a baseball bat or when a user moves a weightto the highest point and descends for another repetition. The Pre-Eventbuffer stores the sensor data up to the event of impact, the Post-Eventbuffer stores the sensor data after the impact event. One or moreembodiments of the microcontroller are configured to analyze the eventand determine if the event is a repetition, firing or event such as astrike or a false strike. If the event is considered a valid eventaccording to a pattern or signature or template (see FIGS. 13 and 15),and not a false event, then another memory buffer 4620 is used formotion capture data up until the occurrence of a second event. Afterthat event occurs, the post event buffer 4621 is filled with captureddata.

Specifically, the motion capture element 111 may be implemented as oneor more MEMs sensors. The sensors may be commanded to collect data atspecific time intervals. At each interval, data is read from the variousMEMs devices, and stored in the ring buffer. A set of values read fromthe MEMs sensors is considered a FRAME of data. A FRAME of data can be0, 1, or multiple memory units depending on the type of data that isbeing collected and stored in the buffer. A FRAME of data is alsoassociated with a time interval. Therefore frames are also associatedwith a time element based on the capture rate from the sensors. Forexample, if each Frame is filled at 2 ms intervals, then 1000 FRAMESwould contain 2000 ms of data (2 seconds). In general, a FRAME does nothave to be associated with time.

Data can be constantly stored in the ring buffer and written out tonon-volatile memory or sent over a wireless or wired link over aradio/antenna to a remote memory or device for example at specifiedevents, times, or when communication is available over a radio/antennato a mobile device or any other computer or memory, or when commandedfor example by a mobile device, i.e., “polled”, or at any other desiredevent.

FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the functionalityspecifically programmed into the microcontroller to determine whether anevent that is to be transmitted for the particular application, forexample a prospective event or for example an event has occurred. Themotion, acceleration or shockwave that occurs from an impact to thesporting equipment is transmitted to the sensor in the motion captureelement, which records the motion capture data as is described in FIG.11 above. The microcontroller is configured to then analyze the eventand determine whether the event is a prospective event or not.

One type of event that occurs is acceleration or ahead/helmet/cap/mouthpiece based sensor over a specified linear orrotational value, or the impact of the clubface when it impacts a golfball. In other sports that utilize a ball and a striking implement, thesame analysis is applied, but tailored to the specific sport andsporting equipment. In tennis a prospective strike can be the racquethitting the ball, for example as opposed to spinning the racquet beforereceiving a serve. In other applications, such as running shoes, theimpact detection algorithm can detect the shoe hitting the ground whensomeone is running. In exercise it can be a particular motion beingachieved, this allows for example the counting of repetitions whilelifting weights or riding a stationary bike.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, processing starts at 4701.The microcontroller compares the motion capture data in memory 4610 withlinear velocity over a certain threshold at 4702, within a particularimpact time frame and searches for a discontinuity threshold where thereis a sudden change in velocity or acceleration above a certain thresholdat 4703. If no discontinuity in velocity or for example accelerationoccurs in the defined time window, then processing continues at 4702. Ifa discontinuity does occur, then the prospective impact is saved inmemory and post impact data is saved for a given time P at 4704. Forexample, if the impact threshold is set to 12G, discontinuity thresholdis set to 6G, and the impact time frames is 10 frames, thenmicrocontroller 3802 signals impact, after detection of a 12Gacceleration in at least one axis or all axes within 10 frames followedby a discontinuity of 6G. In a typical event, the accelerations buildwith characteristic accelerations curves. Impact is signaled as a quickchange in acceleration/velocity. These changes are generally distinctfrom the smooth curves created by an incrementally increasing ordecreasing curves of a particular non-event. For concussion basedevents, linear or rotational acceleration in one or more axes is over athreshold. For golf related events, if the acceleration curves are thatof a golf swing, then particular axes have particular accelerations thatfit within a signature, template or other pattern and a ball strikeresults in a large acceleration strike indicative of a hit. If the datamatches a given template, then it is saved, if not, it processingcontinues back at 4702. If data is to be saved externally as determinedat 4705, i.e., there is a communication link to a mobile device and themobile device is polling or has requested impact data when it occurs forexample, then the event is transmitted to an external memory, or themobile device or saved externally in any other location at 4706 andprocessing continues again at 4702 where the microcontroller analyzescollected motion capture data for subsequent events. If data is not tobe saved externally, then processing continues at 4702 with the impactdata saved locally in memory 4601. If sent externally, the other motioncapture devices may also save their motion data for the event detectedby another sensor. This enables sensors with finer resolution or moremotion for example to alert other sensors associated with the user orpiece of equipment to save the event even if the motion capture datadoes not reach a particular threshold or pattern, for example see FIG.15. This type of processing provides more robust event detection asmultiple sensors may be utilized to detect a particular type of eventand notify other sensors that may not match the event pattern for onereason or another. In addition, cameras may be notified and trim orotherwise discard unneeded video and save event related video, which maylower memory utilization not only of events but also for video. In oneor more embodiments of the invention, noise may be filtered from themotion capture data before sending, and the sample rate may be variedbased on the data values obtained to maximize accuracy. For example,some sensors output data that is not accurate under high sampling ratesand high G-forces. Hence, by lowering the sampling rate at highG-forces, accuracy is maintained. In one or more embodiments of theinvention, the microcontroller associated with motion capture element111 may sense high G forces and automatically switch the sampling rate.In one or more embodiments, instead of using accelerometers with6G/12G/24G ranges or 2G/4G/8G/16G ranges, accelerometers with 2 ranges,for example 2G and 24G may be utilized to simplify the logic ofswitching between ranges.

One or more embodiments of the invention may transmit the event to amobile device and/or continue to save the events in memory, for examplefor a round of golf or until a mobile device communication link isachieved.

For example, with the sensor mounted in a particular mount, a typicalevent signature is shown in FIG. 13, also see FIG. 15 for comparison oftwo characteristic motion types as shown via patterns or templatesassociated with different pieces of equipment or clothing for example.In one or more embodiments, the microcontroller is configured to executea pattern matching algorithm to follow the curves for each of the axisand use segments of 1 or more axis to determine if a characteristicswing has taken place, in either linear or rotational acceleration orany combination thereof. If the motion capture data in memory 4601 iswithin a range close enough to the values of a typical swing as shown inFIG. 13, then the motion is consistent with an event. Embodiments of theinvention thus reduce the number of false positives in event detection,after first characterizing the angular and/or linear velocity signatureof the movement, and then utilizing elements of this signature todetermine if similar signatures for future events have occurred.

The motion capture element collects data from various sensors. The datacapture rate may be high and if so, there are significant amounts ofdata that is being captured. Embodiments of the invention may use bothlossless and lossy compression algorithms to store the data on thesensor depending on the particular application. The compressionalgorithms enable the motion capture element to capture more data withinthe given resources. Compressed data is also what is transferred to theremote computer(s). Compressed data transfers faster. Compressed data isalso stored in the Internet “in the cloud”, or on the database using upless space locally.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of the motion capture element 111configured with optional LED visual indicator 1401 for local display andviewing of event related information and an optional LCD 1402 configuredto display a text or encoded message associated with the event. In oneor more embodiments, the LED visual indicator may flash slow yellow fora moderate type of concussion, and flash fast red for a severe type ofconcussion to give a quick overall view of the event without requiringany wireless communications. In addition, the LED may be asserted with anumber of flashes or other colors to indicate any temperature relatedevent or other event. One or more embodiments may also employ LCD 1402for example that may show text, or alternatively may display a codedmessage for sensitive health related information that a referee ormedical personnel may read or decode with an appropriate reader app on amobile device for example. In the lower right portion of the figure, theLCD display may produce an encoded message that states “PotentialConcussion 1500 degree/s/s rotational event detect—alert medicalpersonnel immediately”. Other paralysis diagnostic messages or any othertype of message that may be sensitive may be encoded and displayedlocally so that medical personnel may immediately begin assessing theuser/player/boxer without alarming other players with the diagnosticmessage for example, or without transmitting the message over the airwirelessly to avoid interception.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of templates characteristic of motionevents associated with different types of equipment and/or instrumentedclothing along with areas in which the motion capture sensor personalitymay change to more accurately or more efficiently capture dataassociated with a particular period of time and/or sub-event. As shown,the characteristic push off for a skateboard is shown in accelerationgraphs 1501 that display the X, Y and Z axes linear acceleration androtational acceleration values in the top 6 timelines, wherein timeincreases to the right. As shown, discrete positive x-axis accelerationcaptured is shown at 1502 and 1503 while the user pushes the skateboardwith each step, followed by negative acceleration as the skateboardslows between each push. In addition, y-axis wobbles during each pushare also captured while there is no change in the z axis linearacceleration and no rotational accelerations in this characteristictemplate or pattern of a skateboard push off or drive. Alternatively,the pattern may include a group of threshold accelerations in x atpredefined time windows with other thresholds or no threshold for wobblefor example that the captured data is compared against to determineautomatically the type of equipment that the motion capture element ismounted to or that the known piece of equipment is experiencingcurrently. This enables event based data saving and transmission forexample.

The pattern or template in graphs 1511 however show a running event asthe user slightly accelerates up and down during a running event. Sincethe user's speed is relatively constant there is relatively noacceleration in x and since the user is not turning, there is relativelyno acceleration in y (left/right). This pattern may be utilized tocompare within ranges for running for example wherein the patternincludes z axis accelerations in predefined time windows. Hence, the topthree graphs of graphs 1511 may be utilized as a pattern to notate arunning event. The bottom three graphs may show captured data that areindicative of the user looking from side to side when the motion captureelement is mounted in a helmet and/or mouthpiece at 1514 and 1515, whilecaptured data 1516 may be indicative of a moderate or sever concussionobserved via a rotational motion of high enough angular degrees persecond squared. In addition, the sensor personality may be altereddynamically at 1516 or at any other threshold for example to change themotion capture sensor rate of capture or bit size of capture to moreaccurately in amplitude or time capture the event. This enables dynamicalteration of quality of capture and/or dynamic change of powerutilization for periods of interest, which is unknown in the art. In oneor more embodiments, a temperature timeline may also be recorded forembodiments of the invention that utilize temperature sensors, eithermounted within a helmet, mouthpiece or in any other piece of equipmentor within the user's body for example.

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of a protective mouthpiece 1601 infront view and at the bottom portion of the figure in top view, forexample as worn in any contact sport such as, but not limited to soccer,boxing, football, wrestling or any other sport for example. Embodimentsof the mouthpiece may be worn in addition to any other headgear with orwithout a motion capture element to increase the motion capture dataassociated with the user and correlate or in any other way combine orcompare the motion data and or events from any or all motion captureelements worn by the user. Embodiments of the mouthpiece and/or helmetshown in FIGS. 2A-B or in any other piece of equipment may also includea temperature sensor for example and as previously discussed.

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of the algorithm utilized by anycomputer in FIG. 1 that is configured to display motion images andmotion capture data in a combined format. In one or more embodiments,the motion capture data and any event related start/stop times may besaved on the motion capture element 111. One or more embodiments of theinvention include a motion event recognition and video synchronizationsystem that includes at least one motion capture element configured tocouple with a user or piece of equipment or mobile device coupled withthe user. The at least one motion capture element may include a memory,a sensor configured to capture any combination of values associated withan orientation, position, velocity and acceleration of the at least onemotion capture element, a radio, a microcontroller coupled with thememory, the sensor and the radio. The microcontroller may be configuredto collect data that includes sensor values from the sensor, store thedata in the memory, analyze the data and recognize an event within thedata to determine event data, transmit the event data associated withthe event via the radio. The system may also include a mobile devicethat includes a computer, a wireless communication interface configuredto communicate with the radio to obtain the event data associated withthe event, wherein the computer is coupled with wireless communicationinterface, wherein the computer is configured to receive the event datafrom the wireless communication interface. The computer may also analyzethe event data to form motion analysis data, store the event data, orthe motion analysis data, or both the event data and the motion analysisdata, obtain an event start time and an event stop time from the event,request image data from camera that includes a video captured at leastduring a timespan from the event start time to the event stop time anddisplay an event video on a display that includes both the event data,the motion analysis data or any combination thereof that occurs duringthe timespan from the event start time to the event stop time and thevideo captured during the timespan from the event start time to theevent stop time.

When a communication channel is available, motion capture data and anyevent related start/stop times are pushed to, or obtained by orotherwise received by any computer, e.g., 101, 102, 102 a, 102 b, 105 at1701. The clock difference between the clock on the sensor and/or inmotion capture data times may also be obtained. This may be performed byreading a current time stamp in the incoming messages and comparing theincoming message time with the current time of the clock of the localcomputer, see also FIG. 18 for example for more detail onsynchronization. The difference in clocks from the sensor and computermay be utilized to request images data from any camera local or pointingat the location of the event for the adjusted times to take into accountany clock difference at 1702. For example, the computer may requestimages taken at the time/location by querying all cameras 103, 104, oron devices 101, 102 and/or 102 a for any or all such devices havingimages taken nearby, e.g., based on GPS location or wireless range,and/or pointed at the event obtained from motion capture element 111. Ifa device is not nearby, but is pointing at the location of the event, asdetermined by its location and orientation when equipped with amagnetometer for example, then it may respond as well with images forthe time range. Any type of camera that may communicate electronicallymay be queried, including nanny cameras, etc. For example, a message maybe sent by mobile computer 101 after receiving events from motioncapture sensor 111 wherein the message may be sent to any cameras forexample within wireless range of mobile device 101. Alternatively, or incombination, mobile device 101 may send a broadcast message asking forany cameras identities that are within a predefined distance from thelocation of the event or query for any cameras pointed in the directionof the event even if not relatively close. Upon receiving the list ofpotential cameras, mobile device 101 may query them for any imagesobtained in a predefined window around the event for example. Thecomputer may receive image data or look up the images locally if thecomputer is coupled with a camera at 1703. In one or more embodiments,the server 172 may iterate through videos and events to determine anythat correlate and automatically trim the videos to correspond to thedurations of the event start and stop times. Although wirelesscommunications may be utilized, any other form of transfer of image datais in keeping with the spirit of the invention. The data from the eventwhether in numerical or graphical overlay format or any other formatincluding text may be show with or otherwise overlaid onto thecorresponding image for that time at 1704. This is shown graphically attime 1710, i.e., the current time, which may be scrollable for example,for image 1711 showing a frame of a motion event with overlaid motioncapture data 1712. See FIG. 6 for combined or simultaneouslynon-overlaid data for example.

FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment of the synchronization architecturethat may be utilized by one or more embodiments of the invention.Embodiments may synchronize clocks in the system using any type ofsynchronization methodology and in one or more embodiments the computer160 on the mobile device 101 is further configured to determine a clockdifference between the motion capture element 111 and the mobile deviceand synchronize the motion analysis data with the video. For example,one or more embodiments of the invention provides procedures formultiple recording devices to synchronize information about the time,location, or orientation of each device, so that data recorded aboutevents from different devices can be combined. Such recording devicesmay be embedded sensors, mobile phones with cameras or microphones, ormore generally any devices that can record data relevant to an activityof interest. In one or more embodiments, this synchronization isaccomplished by exchanging information between devices so that thedevices can agree on a common measurement for time, location, ororientation. For example, a mobile phone and an embedded sensor mayexchange messages across link 1802, e.g., wirelessly, with the currenttimestamps of their internal clocks; these messages allow a negotiationto occur wherein the two devices agree on a common time. Such messagesmay be exchanged periodically as needed to account for clock drift ormotion of the devices after a previous synchronization. In otherembodiments, multiple recording devices may use a common server or setof servers 1801 to obtain standardized measures of time, location, ororientation. For example, devices may use a GPS system to obtainabsolute location information for each device. GPS systems may also beused to obtain standardized time. NTP (Network Time Protocol) serversmay also be used as standardized time servers. Using servers allowsdevices to agree on common measurements without necessarily beingconfigured at all times to communicate with one another.

FIG. 19 illustrates the detection of an event by one of the motioncapture sensors 111, transmission of the event detection, here shown asarrows emanating from the centrally located sensor 111 in the figure, toother motion capture sensors 111 and/or cameras, e.g., on mobile device101, saving of the event motion data and trimming of the video tocorrespond to the event. In one or more embodiments of the invention,some of the recording devices are configured to detect the occurrence ofvarious events of interest. Some such events may occur at specificmoments in time; others may occur over a time interval, wherein thedetection includes detection of the start of an event and of the end ofan event. These devices are configured to record any combination of thetime, location, or orientation of the recording device, for exampleincluded in memory buffer 4610 for example along with the event data, orin any other data structure, using the synchronized measurement basesfor time, location, and orientation described above.

Embodiments of the computer on the mobile device may be furtherconfigured to discard at least a portion of the video outside of theevent start time to the event stop, for example portions 1910 and 1911before and after the event or event with predefined pre and postintervals 1902 and 1903. For example, in one or more embodiments of theinvention, some of the recording devices capture data continuously tomemory while awaiting the detection of an event. To conserve memory,some devices may be configured to store data to a more permanent localstorage medium, or to server 172, only when this data is proximate intime to a detected event. For example, in the absence of an eventdetection, newly recorded data may ultimately overwrite previouslyrecorded data in memory, depending on the amount of memory in eachdevice that is recording motion data or video data. A circular buffermay be used in some embodiments as a typical implementation of such anoverwriting scheme. When an event detection occurs, the recording devicemay store some configured amount of data prior to the start of theevent, near start of pre interval 1902 and some configured amount ofdata after the end of the event, near 1903, in addition to storing thedata captured during the event itself, namely 1901. Any pre or post timeinterval is considered part of the event start time and event stop timeso that context of the event is shown in the video for example. Thisgives context to the event, for example the amount of pre time intervalmay be set per sport for example to enable a setup for a golf swing tobe part of the event video even though it occurs before the actual eventof striking the golf ball. The follow through may be recorded as per theamount of interval allotted for the post interval as well.

Embodiments of the system may further comprise a server computer remoteto the mobile device and wherein the server computer is configured todiscard at least a portion of the video outside of the event start timeto the event stop and return the video captured during the timespan fromthe event start time to the event stop time to the computer in themobile device. The server or mobile device may combine or overlay themotion analysis data or event data, for example velocity or rawacceleration data with or onto the video to form event video 1900, whichmay thus greatly reduce the amount of video storage required as portions1910 and 1911 may be of much larger length in time that the event ingeneral.

Embodiments of the at least one motion capture element may be configuredto transmit the event to at least one other motion capture sensor or atleast one other mobile device or any combination thereof, and whereinthe at least one other motion capture sensor or the at least one othermobile device or any combination thereof is configured to save dataassociated with said event. For example, in embodiments with multiplerecording devices operating simultaneously, one such device may detectan event and send a message to other recording devices that such anevent detection has occurred. This message can include the timestamp ofthe start and/or stop of the event, using the synchronized time basisfor the clocks of the various devices. The receiving devices, e.g.,other motion capture sensors and/or cameras may use the event detectionmessage to store data associated with the event to nonvolatile storage,for example within motion capture element 111 or mobile device 101 orserver 172. The devices may be configured to store some amount of dataprior to the start of the event and some amount of data after the end ofthe event, 1902 and 1903 respectively, in addition to the data directlyassociated with the event 1901. In this way all devices can record datasimultaneously, but use an event trigger from only one of the devices toinitiate saving of distributed event data from multiple sources.

Embodiments of the computer may be further configured to save the videofrom the event start time to the event stop time with the motionanalysis data that occurs from the event start time to the event stoptime or a remote server may be utilized to save the video. In one ormore embodiments of the invention, some of the recording devices may notbe in direct communication with each other throughout the time period inwhich events may occur. In these situations, devices can be configuredto save complete records of all of the data they have recorded topermanent storage or to a server. Saving of only data associated withevents may not be possible in these situations because some devices maynot be able to receive event trigger messages. In these situations,saved data can be processed after the fact to extract only the relevantportions associated with one or more detected events. For example,multiple mobile devices might record video of a player or performer, andupload this video continuously to server 172 for storage. Separately theplayer or performer may be equipped with an embedded sensor that is ableto detect events such as particular motions or actions. Embedded sensordata may be uploaded to the same server either continuously or at alater time. Since all data, including the video streams as well as theembedded sensor data, is generally timestamped, video associated withthe events detected by the embedded sensor can be extracted and combinedon the server. Embodiments of the server or computer may be furtherconfigured while a communication link is open between the at least onemotion capture sensor and the mobile device to discard at least aportion of the video outside of the event start time to the event stopand save the video from the event start time to the event stop time withthe motion analysis data that occurs from the event start time to theevent stop time. Alternatively, if the communication link is not open,embodiments of the computer may be further configured to save video andafter the event is received after the communication link is open, thendiscard at least a portion of the video outside of the event start timeto the event stop and save the video from the event start time to theevent stop time with the motion analysis data that occurs from the eventstart time to the event stop time. For example, in some embodiments ofthe invention, data may be uploaded to a server as described above, andthe location and orientation data associated with each device's datastream may be used to extract data that is relevant to a detected event.For example, a large set of mobile devices may be used to record videoat various locations throughout a golf tournament. This video data maybe uploaded to a server either continuously or after the tournament.After the tournament, sensor data with event detections may also beuploaded to the same server. Post-processing of these various datastreams can identify particular video streams that were recorded in thephysical proximity of events that occurred and at the same time.Additional filters may select video streams where a camera was pointingin the correct direction to observe an event. These selected streams maybe combined with the sensor data to form an aggregate data stream withmultiple video angles showing an event.

The system may obtain video from a camera coupled with the mobiledevice, or any camera that is separate from or otherwise remote from themobile device. In one or more embodiments, the video is obtained from aserver remote to the mobile device, for example obtained after a queryfor video at a location and time interval.

Embodiments of the server or computer may be configured to synchronizesaid video and said event data, or said motion analysis data via imageanalysis to more accurately determine a start event frame or stop eventframe in said video or both, that is most closely associated with saidevent start time or said event stop time or both. In one or moreembodiments of the invention, synchronization of clocks betweenrecording devices may be approximate. It may be desirable to improve theaccuracy of synchronizing data feeds from multiple recording devicesbased on the view of an event from each device. In one or moreembodiments, processing of multiple data streams is used to observesignatures of events in the different streams to assist withfine-grained synchronization. For example, an embedded sensor may besynchronized with a mobile device including a video camera, but the timesynchronization may be accurate only to within 100 milliseconds. If thevideo camera is recording video at 30 frames per second, the video framecorresponding to an event detection on the embedded sensor can only bedetermined within 3 frames based on the synchronized timestamps alone.In one embodiment of the device, video frame image processing can beused to determine the precise frame corresponding most closely to thedetected event. See FIG. 8 and description thereof for more detail. Forinstance, a shock from a snowboard hitting the ground as shown in FIG.17, that is detected by an inertial sensor may be correlated with theframe at which the geometric boundary of the snowboard makes contactwith the ground. Other embodiments may use other image processingtechniques or other methods of detecting event signatures to improvesynchronization of multiple data feeds.

Embodiments of the at least one motion capture element may include alocation determination element configured to determine a location thatis coupled with the microcontroller and wherein the microcontroller isconfigured to transmit the location to the computer on the mobiledevice. In one or more embodiments, the system further includes a serverwherein the microcontroller is configured to transmit the location tothe server, either directly or via the mobile device, and wherein thecomputer or server is configured to form the event video from portionsof the video based on the location and the event start time and theevent stop time. For example, in one or more embodiments, the eventvideo may be trimmed to a particular length of the event, and transcodedto any or video quality for example on mobile device 101 or on server172 or on computer 105 or any other computer coupled with the system,and overlaid or otherwise integrated with motion analysis data or eventdata, e.g., velocity or acceleration data in any manner. Video may bestored locally in any resolution, depth, or image quality or compressiontype to store video or any other technique to maximize storage capacityor frame rate or with any compression type to minimize storage, whethera communication link is open or not between the mobile device, at leastone motion capture sensor and/or server. In one or more embodiments, thevelocity or other motion analysis data may be overlaid or otherwisecombined, e.g., on a portion beneath the video, that includes the eventstart and stop time, that may include any number of seconds beforeand/or after the actual event to provide video of the swing before aball strike event for example. In one or more embodiments, the at leastone motion capture sensor and/or mobile device(s) may transmit eventsand video to a server wherein the server may determine that particularvideos and sensor data occurred in a particular location at a particulartime and construct event videos from several videos and several sensorevents. The sensor events may be from one sensor or multiple sensorscoupled with a user and/or piece of equipment for example. Thus thesystem may construct short videos that correspond to the events, whichgreatly decreases video storage requirements for example.

In one or more embodiments, the microcontroller or the computer isconfigured to determine a location of the event or the microcontrollerand the computer are configured to determine the location of the eventand correlate the location, for example by correlating or averaging thelocation to provide a central point of the event, and/or erroneouslocation data from initializing GPS sensors may be minimized. In thismanner, a group of users with mobile devices may generate videos of agolfer teeing off, wherein the event location of the at least one motioncapture device may be utilized and wherein the server may obtain videosfrom the spectators and generate an event video of the swing and ballstrike of the professional golfer, wherein the event video may utilizeframes from different cameras to generate a BULLET TIME® video fromaround the golfer as the golfer swings. The resulting video or videosmay be trimmed to the duration of the event, e.g., from the event starttime to the event stop time and/or with any pre or post predeterminedtime values around the event to ensure that the entire event is capturedincluding any setup time and any follow through time for the swing orother event.

In one or more embodiments, the computer on the mobile device mayrequest at least one image or video that contains the event from atleast one camera proximal to the event directly by broadcasting arequest for any videos taken in the area by any cameras, optionally thatmay include orientation information related to whether the camera wasnot only located proximally to the event, but also oriented or otherwisepointing at the event. In other embodiments, the video may be requestedby the computer on the mobile device from a remote server. In thisscenario, any location and/or time associated with an event may beutilized to return images and/or video near the event or taken at a timenear the event, or both. In one or more embodiments, the computer orserver may trim the video to correspond to the event duration and again,may utilize image processing techniques to further synchronize portionsof an event, such as a ball strike with the corresponding frame in thevideo that matches the acceleration data corresponding to the ballstrike on a piece of equipment for example.

Embodiments of the computer on the mobile device or on the server may beconfigured to display a list of one or more times at which an event hasoccurred or wherein one or more events has occurred. In this manner, auser may find events from a list to access the event videos in rapidfashion.

Embodiments of the invention may include at least one motion capturesensor that is physically coupled with said mobile device. Theseembodiments enable any type of mobile phone or camera system with anintegrated sensor, such as any type of helmet mounted camera or anymount that includes both a camera and a motion capture sensor togenerate event data and video data.

While the ideas herein disclosed has been described by means of specificembodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications andvariations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A motion event recognition and videosynchronization system comprising: at least one motion capture elementconfigured to couple with a user or piece of equipment or mobile devicecoupled with the user, wherein said at least one motion capture elementcomprises a memory; a sensor configured to capture any combination ofvalues associated with an orientation, position, velocity andacceleration of said at least one motion capture element; a radio; amicrocontroller coupled with said memory, said sensor and said radio,wherein said microcontroller is configured to collect data thatcomprises sensor values from said sensor; store said data in saidmemory; analyze said data and recognize an event within said data todetermine event data; transmit said event data associated with saidevent via said radio; a mobile device comprising a computer; a wirelesscommunication interface configured to communicate with said radio toobtain said event data associated with said event; wherein said computeris coupled with wireless communication interface, wherein said computeris configured to receive said event data from said wirelesscommunication interface; analyze said event data to form motion analysisdata; store said event data, or said motion analysis data, or both saidevent data and said motion analysis data; obtain an event start time andan event stop time from said event; request image data from cameracomprising a video captured at least during a timespan from said eventstart time to said event stop time; display an event video on a displaycomprising both of said event data, said motion analysis data or anycombination thereof that occurs during said timespan from said eventstart time to said event stop time and said video captured during saidtimespan from said event start time to said event stop time.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured todetermine a clock difference between said motion capture element andsaid mobile device and synchronize said motion analysis data with saidvideo.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is furtherconfigured to discard at least a portion of said video outside of saidevent start time to said event stop.
 4. The system of claim 1 whereinsaid system further comprises a server computer remote to said mobiledevice and wherein said server computer is configured to discard atleast a portion of said video outside of said event start time to saidevent stop and return said video captured during said timespan from saidevent start time to said event stop time to said computer in said mobiledevice.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is furtherconfigured to save said video from said event start time to said eventstop time with said motion analysis data that occurs from said eventstart time to said event stop time.
 6. The system of claim 1 whereinsaid system further comprises a server computer remote to said mobiledevice and wherein said server computer is configured to save said videofrom said event start time to said event stop time with said motionanalysis data that occurs from said event start time to said event stoptime and return said video captured during said timespan from said eventstart time to said event stop time to said computer in said mobiledevice.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is furtherconfigured while a communication link is open between said at least onemotion capture sensor and said mobile device to discard at least aportion of said video outside of said event start time to said eventstop and save said video from said event start time to said event stoptime with said motion analysis data that occurs from said event starttime to said event stop time.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein saidcomputer is further configured while a communication link not openbetween said at least one motion capture sensor and said mobile deviceto save video and after said event is received after said communicationlink is open, then discard at least a portion of said video outside ofsaid event start time to said event stop and save said video from saidevent start time to said event stop time with said motion analysis datathat occurs from said event start time to said event stop time.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein said video is obtained from a camera coupledwith said mobile device.
 10. The system of claim 1 wherein said video isobtained from a camera remote from said mobile device.
 11. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said video is obtained from a server remote to saidmobile device.
 12. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least onemotion capture sensor is configured to be worn near the user's head andwherein said recognize said event within said data comprises calculationof a location of impact on the user's head.
 13. The system of claim 12wherein said at least one motion capture sensor is configured to couplewith a hat or cap or mouthpiece.
 14. The system of claim 12 wherein saidat least one motion capture sensor is configured to couple with a helmetand wherein said recognize said event within said data comprisescalculation of the location of impact on the user's head based on thephysical geometry of the helmet.
 15. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising an isolator configured to surround said at least one motioncapture element to approximate physical acceleration dampening ofcerebrospinal fluid around said user's brain to minimize translation oflinear acceleration and rotational acceleration of said event data toobtain an observed linear acceleration and an observed rotationalacceleration of the user's brain.
 16. The system of claim 1 wherein saidcomputer is configured to synchronize said video and said event data, orsaid motion analysis data via image analysis to more accuratelydetermine a start event frame or stop event frame in said video or both,that is most closely associated with said event start time or said eventstop time or both.
 17. The system of claim 1 wherein said system furthercomprises a server wherein said server is configured to synchronize saidvideo and said event data, or said motion analysis data via imageanalysis to more accurately determine a start event frame or stop eventframe in said video or both, that is most closely associated with saidevent start time or said event stop time or both.
 18. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said computer is further configure to access previouslystored event data or motion analysis data associated with said user orpiece of equipment; wherein said display information comprises apresentation of said event data associated with said at least one useron a display based on said event data or motion analysis data associatedwith said user or piece of equipment and said previously stored eventdata or motion analysis data associated with said user or piece ofequipment or said previously stored motion capture data or motionanalysis data associated with at least one other user or other piece ofequipment.
 19. The system of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller insaid at least one motion capture element is configured to transmit saidevent to at least one other motion capture sensor or at least one othermobile device or any combination thereof, and wherein said at least oneother motion capture sensor or said at least one other mobile device orany combination thereof is configured to save data associated with saidevent.
 20. The system of claim 1 further comprising: an identifiercoupled with said at least one motion capture sensor or said user orsaid piece of equipment; said computer further configured to receivesaid identifier; and associate said identifier with said event data andmotion analysis data.
 21. The system of claim 1 wherein said at leastone motion capture element further comprises a light emitting elementconfigured to output light if said event occurs.
 22. The system of claim1 wherein said at least one motion capture element further comprises anaudio output element configured to output sound if said event occurs orif said at least one motion capture sensor is out of range of saidcomputer or wherein said computer is configured to display and alert ifsaid at least one motion capture sensor is out of range of saidcomputer, or any combination thereof.
 23. The system of claim 1 whereinsaid at least one motion capture element further comprises a locationdetermination element configured to determine a location that is coupledwith said microcontroller and wherein said microcontroller is configuredto transmit said location to said computer or wherein said systemfurther comprises a server and wherein said microcontroller isconfigured to transmit said location to said server and wherein saidcomputer or server is configured to form said event video from portionsof said video based on said location and said event start time and saidevent stop time.
 24. The system of claim 1 wherein said microcontrolleror said computer is configured to determine a location of said event orwherein said microcontroller and said computer are configured todetermine the location of said event and correlate the location.
 25. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to requestat least one image or video that contains said event from at least onecamera proximal to said event or from said server.
 26. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to broadcast arequest for camera locations proximal to said event or oriented to viewsaid event.
 27. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is furtherconfigured to display a list of one or more times at which said eventhas occurred or wherein one or more events has occurred.
 28. The systemof claim 1 wherein at least one motion capture sensor is physicallycoupled with said mobile device.
 29. The system of claim 1 wherein themicrocontroller is coupled with a temperature sensor and wherein saidmicrocontroller is configured to transmit a temperature obtained fromthe temperature sensor as a temperature event.
 30. The system of claim 1wherein said event comprises motion associated with said at least onemotion capture sensor coupled with any combination of said user, or saidpiece of equipment or said mobile device or motion indicative ofstanding, walking, falling, heat stroke, a seizure, violent shaking, aconcussion, a collision, abnormal gait, abnormal or non-existentbreathing or any combination thereof.